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PRESENTED  BY, 
DATE 


,-Sibravg. 


*  1 


A 


31  E  M  0  I  R 


OF 


REV.   JOTHAM   SEW  ALL, 


CHESTERVILLE,  MAINE, 


BY  HI 8  SON, 

REV.  JOTHAM  SEWALL. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  TAPPAN  &  WHITTEMORE. 
BANGOR:  E.  F.  DUKEN. 

1853. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852,  by 

JOTHAM     SEWALL, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  New 
Hampshire. 


ASDOVER  :   J.   D.    FLAGG, 
Stercoty per  and  Printer. 


PREFACE. 


THE  subject  of  this  memoir  had  often  been  requested 
and  urged  to  prepare  a  sketch  of  his  life  for  the  press. 
His  labors  were  so  extensive  and  successful,  and  per- 
formed at  such  an  interesting  period  in  the  history  of  his 
native  State,  as  to  identify  him,  to  a  considerable  extent, 
•with  the  rise  and  progress  of  evangelical  religion  in  the 
region.  It  was  thought,  too,  that  his  life  embraced  many 
incidents  which  might  be  instructive  and  profitable.  In 
1844  he  made  a  beginning,  and  gave  a  sketch  of  his 
parentage  and  childhood.  The  pressure  of  other  duties 
then  led  him  to  suspend  the  work.  There  it  remained 
till  after  his  severe  sickness,  in  1849.  The  subject  was 
then  again  urged  on  his  attention,  and  he  resumed  the 
undertaking,  and  completed  his  early  history,  and  ad- 
vanced somewhat  beyond.  But  it  has  been  found 
necessary, 'for  the  sake  of  avoiding  prolixity  and  same- 
ness, to  use  less  of  it  than  was  originally  intended. 


IT  PREFACE. 

The  language,  also,  of  what  is  retained,  required  some 
correction.  His  diary,  from  which  quotations  are  made, 
was  written  with  great  rapidity,  and  in  all  situations, 
and,  apparently,  without  any  care  except  simply  to  note 
the  idea.  The  reader  is  therefore  apprized,  that  the 
language  is  not  always  precisely  what  he  used.  Such 
corrections  have  been  made  as  brevity,  or  any  other 
cause  seemed  manifestly  to  require. 

In  finishing  the  work  which  he  had  thus  commenced, 
the  writer  has  kept  in  mind  a  leading  object  for  which 
a  sketch  of  his  life  had  been  desired ;  and  has  en- 
deavored to  preserve  such  facts  as  bore  a  mutual  re- 
lation to  his  labors  and  the  history  of  the  church. 

The  writer  has  received  a  much  smaller  contribution 
of  facts  from  correspondents,  than  he  had  hoped.  To 
those  who  have  favored  him  in  this  respect,  he  feels 
greatly  indebted.  Many  other  facts,  doubtless,  might 
have  been  collected,  if  the  writer  had  had  it  in  his  power 
to  take  an  extensive  tour,  and  converse  with  persons 
who  were  acquainted  with  his  earlier  ministerial  labors. 
He  also  deeply  regrets,  that  nothing  of  the  reports  which 
he  made  to  the  Missionary  Societies  which  employed 
him  has  been  preserved,  except  the  brief  extracts  which 
have  been  published.  He  has  been  indefatigable  ia  his 
efforts  to  find  at  least  some  of  them,  —  but  without  suc- 
cess. These,  in  general  information  beyond  what  his 
diary  contains,  would  have  been  invaluable.  This  is 


PREFACE.  V 

manifest  from  a  copy  of  one  which  remained  among 
his  papers. 

The  portrait  accompanying  this  volume  is  from  a 
painting  by  Badger,  taken  in  July,  1837.  He  was  then 
seventy-seven  years  old.  It  is  an  excellent  likeness, 
except  that  one  eye  is  turned  a  little  outward.  This 
was  not  natural  to  him,  but  probably  existed  at  the  time, 
owing  to  a  weakness  in  the  organ,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  lost  the  use  of  it,  some  years  before  his  death. 
The  lithograph  was  taken  some  years  since,  and  the 
reader  will  excuse  its  size. 

The  writer  has  deeply  felt  his  incompetence  to  give 
to  the  public  such  a  work  as,  respecting  such  a  man, 
it  had  a  right  to  expect.  He  has  often  trembled,  and 
been  ready  to  stop  and  try  to  get  the  undertaking  into 
other  hands.  But  events  have  so  occurred,  in  provi- 
dence, as  to  devolve  the  responsibility  upon  him;  and  he 
has  endeavored,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  to  meet  it. 
With  all  his  misgivings,  however,  he  confesses  the  exist- 
ence of  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work. 
It  has  revived  afresh  the  scenes  of  his  childhood.  It 
has  placed  before  him  traits  of  character  in  a  revered 
parent,  on  which  he  has  loved  to  look.  It  has  impressed 
on  him  more  strongly  than  ever  a  sense  of  his  obligations 
to  God  for  such  a  parent,  whose  piety  was  more  deep, 
and  thorough,  and  practical,  than,  —  with  all  he  had  pre- 
viously known,  —  he  had  supposed  ;  and  he  feels  that  he 


Ti  PREFACE. 

ought  to  be  much  better  for  the  bright  example  which 
has  thus  passed  in  review  before  him.  Much  time  has 
been  required  for  the  perusal  of  a  voluminous  diary ; 
and  a  change  in  the  writer's  field  of  labor  has  occasioned 
gome  interruption  and  delay.  But  at  length  he  has  the 
pleasure  of  commending  the  work  to  God  and  the  Chris- 
tian public,  hoping  that  it  may  minister  something  to  the 
edification  of  the  pious,  and  the  advancement  of  the 

Redeemer's  kingdom. 

J.  SEWALL. 
APRIL  20, 1852. 


'CONTENTS 


PAGE. 

CHAP.      I.  His  Parentage,  Conversion,  Single  Life,  and 

Marriage,  ..........................        9 

CHAP.  II.  His  private  Christian  character,  Call  to  the 

Ministry,  and  License  to  preach.  Ordination,  41 
CHAP.  HI.  First  Mission.  Labors  about  home.  Mission  as 

far  east  as  Sullivan,    .................      71 

CHAP.  IV.  Teaches  school.  Death  of  a  child.  Four 

eastern  excursions.  Death  of  another  child,  110 
CHAP.  V.  Labors  at  Portland.  At  Bloomfield.  Missions 

in  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island,.  .  .  .    153 

CHAP.  VI.  Death  of  a  son.   Various  Labors.   Letter  of  Dr. 

I 
Anderson.      Correspondence.      Mission  in 

New  Hampshire.      Revival  in  Chesterville. 
Installed  there,  ......................    205 

CHAP.  VII.  Tour  eastward.  Journey  south,  in  behalf  of 
Bangor  Seminary.  Another  agency  for  Ban- 
gor  Seminary.  Preaches  to  Seamen  in  Port- 
land. Death  of  a  daughter,  ............  249 


Till  CONTENTS. 

N  \ 

CHAP.  VIII.  Labors  at  Machias  and  Searsport  in  Revivals. 

At  Franconia,  N.  H.   In  different  Revivals. 

His  remaining  children  converted, 279 

CHAP.     IX.  Various  Labors  at  Houlton.     At  Cape  Cod. 

At  Harpswell, 304 

CHAP.      X.  Various  labors.     Death  of  his  -wife.     Mis- 
sions  in    Burlington    and    vicinity.       At 

\  Flagstaff, 388 

CHAP.     XL  His    last    labors ;    Sickness ;    Death ;    and 

Character, 372 

List  of  Places  where  he  Preached, 404 

Index, -. 408 


MEMOIR, 


CHAPTER  I. 

HIS  PARENTAGE,  CONVERSION,  SINGLE  LIFE,AND  MARRIAGE. 

THE  living  may  be  benefited  by  the  dead.  A  knowledge 
of  the  histories  of  those  whom  God  has  raised  up  to  serve 
him  on  earth,  perpetuates  their  influence.  It  brings  instruction, 
and  furnishes  material  for  improvement.  To  review  their  lives 
is  like  looking  into  a  glass.  It  shows  us,  in  varying  circum- 
stances, the  workings  of  minds  and  hearts  like  our  own.  It 
unfolds,  also,  the  dealings  of  God  with  those  who  have  gone 
before  us,  —  how  he  has  instructed,  disciplined,  and  guided 
them ;  and  tends  to  strengthen  faith,  encourage  hope,  and 
excite  to  activity,  by  presenting  various  instances  of  God's 
kindness,  faithfulness,  and  care. 

The  following  memoir  is  intended  to  be  a  sketch  of  the  life 
and  labors  of  one  whom  God  appears  to  have  raised  up  for  a 
special  purpose,  and  endowed  with  more  than  ordinary  grace. 
It  is  fraught  with  a  variety  of  incidents  which,  it  is  hoped, 
will  be  profitable  to  the  reader.  And  it  will  not  be  the  less 
interesting  from  the  fact  that  the  life  of  its  subject  stretches 
back  into  what  is  now  beginning  to  be  '  olden  times,'  and 
comes  to  us  connected,  with  things  as  they  were  in  the  earlier 
history  of  his  native  State. 

He  has  given  us  the  following  account  of  his  parentage, 
early  life,  and  conversion :  — 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

'I  WAS  born  in  York,  Maine,  Tuesday,  January  1,  1760. 
My  father's  name  was  Henry,  son  of  Nicholas,  son  of  John,  son 
of  Henry,  son  of  Henry,  son  of  Henry  Sewall,  Esq.,  who  was 
some  time  mayor  of  the  city  of  Coventry  in  England.  My 
mother  was  Abigail  Titcomb,  of  Newbury,  Mass.  My  father, 
being  deprived  of  his  father  comparatively  young,  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  mason,  and  enjoyed  very  limited  means  of  education. 
My  parents  were  professors  of  religion.  But  the  business  of 
instructing  and  catechizing  the  children,  (of  whom  I  was  the 
youngest  of  five,)  fell  principally  upon  my  mother,  whose  early 
advantages  had  been  better  than  those  of  my  father.  The 
instructions  thus  received,  impressed  my  mind  while  I  was 
very  young.  I  recollect  having  had  many  serious  inquiries 
respecting  the  existence  of  God,  the  creation  of  the  world, 
and  my  own  existence,  when  I  was  about  three  years  old. 
And  from  that  time  forward,  I  had  more  or  less  serious 
thoughts.  In  the  absence  of  my  father,  my  mother  frequent- 
ly prayed  with  us ;  and  some  of  the  expressions  she  used 
impressed  me.  "When  teaching  us  the  cateclu'sm,  she  often 
interspersed  such  remarks  and  exhortations  as  i  lade  me  weep. 

'  At  a  little  rising  of  four  years  old,  I  was  sent  to  school ; 
but  my  extreme  bashfulness  caused  me  to  dislike  it.  It  was 
some  time  before  I  could  so  master  my  timidity  as  to  endure 
being  called  out  to  read  aloud  before  the  school  without  crying. 
When  I  began  to  notice  things  at  meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  I 
saw  the  deacon  rise  and  read  the  hymn,  line  by  line,  to  be 
sung.  I  thought  I  could  never  have  courage  to  do  that ;  and 
was  solicitous  to  know  whether  all  old  men  became  deacons. 
On  learning  that  they  did  not,  I  was  quite  relieved  by  the 
thought,  that,  should  I  live  to  be  old,  I  might  not  become  a 
deacon,  and  should  thus  escape  reading  the  psalm. 

'  As  a  scholar,  I  was  dull.  My  booktwas  not  loved  ;  and 
my  intellect  was  slow  in  developing.  The  advantages  of  the 
common  school  then,  were  by  no  means  what  they  are  now  ; 
and  my  progress  was  slow.  [At  a  subsequent  period,  how- 


JOTHAM    SJS  WA  L  L  . 

'  ever,  he  made  considerable  advances  in  arithmetic,  and  the 
elements  of  geometry,  surveying,  and  dialing,  under  the 
instruction  of  the  famous  Nicolas  Pike, —  author  of  Pike's 
Arithmetic,  —  as  a  manuscript,  not  long  since  in  existence, 
shows.  His  first  attention  to  English  grammar,  as  a  study, 
is  believed  to  have  been  in  the  winter  of  1803.]  When  I 
had  reached  my  teens,  my  ambition  was  wrought  upon  to 
engage  in  reading.  I  had  a  taste  for  history  and  geography, 
—  to  which,  to  a  considerable  extent,  I  devoted  my  leisure 
hours. 

'At  six  years  of  age,  rny  religious  impressions  were 
stronger  than  they  had  previously  been.  When  I  was 
towards  eleven,  I  heard  the  famous  Whitefield  preach,  in 
my  native  town.  It  was  Thursday,  September  27,  1770,— 
only  three  days  before  his  death.  His  text  was  John  14  :  6, 
"  I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life."  Near  the  beginning  of 
his  sermon,  he  said :  '  My  hearers,  if  any  of  you  were  lost  in 
a  wilderness,  and  knew  of  no  way  to  get  out,  how  glad  would 
you  be  to  have  some  one  come  and  show  you.  You  are  all 
by  nature  lost  in  a  wilderness  of  sin  and  death ;  and  Christ 
Jesus  is  so  kind  as  to  come  from  heaven  to  show  you  the  way 
out.  Nay,  himself  is  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life.'  Then, 
after  a  slight  pause,  he  said, '  But  there  are  some  who  tell  us 
of  some  other  way  of  getting  to  heaven.  Ah,  what  can  that 
be  ?  A  way  of  works.  They  have  a  notion  of  building  a 
ladder  of  their  own  performances,  and  climbing  to  heaven  by 
it ! '  Then  raising  his  voice,  and  striking  the  desk  with  great 
force,  he  cried  out, '  Works  carry  a  man  to  heaven  ?  Why, 
my  hearers,  if  a  man  had  come  to  you  this  morning,  and  told 
you  that  he  had  built  a  rope  of  sand,  and  climbed  to  the  moon 
by  it,  would  you  not  think  that  his  head  was  turned  ?  —  So 
insufficient  are  works  to  carry  a  man  to  heaven.' 

The  following  incident  should  impress  on  parents  the  vast 
importance  of  furnishing  their  children  with  good  reading,  and 
of  teaching  them  the  proper  manner  of  spending  their  time 


12  '  MEMOIROF 

on  the  Sabbath.  The  impressions  which  children  receive 
from  books,  may  be  decisive  of  their  characters  and  useful- 
ness in  time,  and  their  destinies  for  eternity. 

'  When  I  was  between  twelve  and  thirteen  years  of  age,  I 
read  considerably  in  a  book  entitled,  "  The  Sincere  Convert," 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard.  The  work  was  close  and  search- 
ing. One  Sabbath  day,  at  the  direction  of  my  parents,  I 
remained  at  home  to  take  care  of  the  house.  I  spent  most 
of  the  day  hi  reading  that  book.  I  felt  the  force  of  its  pun- 
gent exhortations,  and  was  frequently  in  tears.  I  tried  to 
pray.  I  thought  much  about  praying  daily.  Previously  to 
this,  I  had  done  little  else  in  praying  than  repeat  the  prayers 
I  had  been  taught  in  connection  with  the  Catechism.  When 
any  danger  threatened,  I  had  sometimes  prayed  in  my  owtt 
words.  Once  I  wrote  a  form,  and  endeavored  to  commit  it , 
but  never  used  it  much.  I  now  thought  it  high  time  to  ex- 
press my  wants  in  language  that  a  sense  of  things  on  my 
mind  might  dictate.  I  then  resolved  to  pray  daily,  night  and 
morning  especially.  I  began  that  day  ;  and,  to  the  best  of  my 
recollection,  from  that  time  to  the  present  [September,  1849], 
I  have  never  passed  a  day  without  attempting  the  duty.  I 
think  this  was  in  August,  1772.  I  had  not  followed  this  prac- 
tice long  before  I  became  quite  proud  of  myself,  thinking  that 
I  had  become  quite  good,  —  much  better  than  many  around 
me,  who,  I  feared,  never  prayed.  I  did  not  think  them  half 
as  good  as  myself — I  wished  they  were.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, I  was  left  to  do  things  which  I  knew  to  be  wrong. 
Then  my  proud  thoughts  would  be  laid  low.  I  would  then 
pray  oftener  than  twice  a  day,  and  try  to  be  more  earnest  in 
the  duty,  till  I  had  made  up  for  my  sins,  and  done  that  which 
would  make  the  Lord  better  pleased  with  me.  I  thought  he 
must  pay  some  attention  to  such  good  prayers,  and  give  me 
some  credit  for  them.  If  he  did  not,  I  concluded  I  should 
think  quite  hard  of  him.  I  thought,  however,  if  I  followed 
this  course,  I  should  soon  be  converted ;  and  then,  all  would 


JOTHAMSKWAJLL.  13 

be  well.  The  thought  that  I  was  not  converted,  and  might 
die  so,  would  often  distress  me.  I  was  ready  to  say  to  my- 
self, '  After  all  that  I  can  do,  I 'am  not  converted,  and  I  shall 
certainly  be  lost.'  Then  I  would  think,  '  Will  the  Lord  take 
an  openly  profane  person,  who  never  prayed,  and  convert 
him,  and  take  him  to  heaven,  and  leave  me,  with  all  my  good 
prayers  and  morality,  and  send  me  to  hell  ? '  I  could  not  en- 
dure the  thought.  And  although  I  would  not  have  dared  to 
say  it  would  be  unjust,  such  were  my  feelings. 

'Not  far  from  this  time,  I  was  much  troubled  about  the 
doctrine  of  election.  I  had  ever  believed  it ;  it  was  in  the 
Catechism,  and  in  the  Bible.  But  my  heart  was  opposed  to 
it.  Once,  when  not  much  over  fourteen,  as  I  was  going  on 
an  errand  and  reflecting  upon  the  doctrine,  I  thought,  <If 
everything  is  decreed,  it  is  decreed  that  I  shall  go  this  dis- 
tance, and  take  one  step  after  another,  at  this  particular  time. 
Then,  the  wicked  thought  arose,  '  Can 't  I  turn  about  and 
go  home,  and  thus  disappoint  the  decree  ?  —  No,  that  would 
only  prove  that  event  to  be  decreed.'  I  found  myself  hedged 
in.  There  was  no  disappointing  or  getting  rid  of  the  doc- 
trine. Nothing,  in  all  the  course  of  my  convictions,  harrowed 
up  the  enmity  of  my  heart  like  the  doctrine  of  particular 
personal  election.  I  could  think  of  the  Divine  purposes 
generally,  as  concerned  in  the  arrangement  and  operation 
of  the  universe  at  large,  with  a  degree  of  composure  and 
approbation.  But  when  I  reflected  on  God's  purposes  in 
relation  to  individuals,  and  my  own  case  in  particular  — 
when  I  thought  that  he  had  decreed,  from  all  eternity,  whether 
I  should  be  saved  or  lost  —  and  when  I  thought  it  very  pos- 
sible that  the  decree  was  forever  fixed  that  1  should  be  eter- 
nally miserable,  let  me  do  what  I  could  aside  from  the  display 
of  special  grace  ;  my  heart  would  rise  against  God  in  dread- 
ful enmity.  The  recollection  of  this  has  often  made  me 
shudder  since.  I  was  also  ready  to  quarrel  with  the  terms 
of  salvation.  If  salvation  had  been  suspended  on  something 
I 


14  MEMOIR     OF 

I  could  have  done,  while  unconverted,  to  make  it  sure,  it 
seemed  as  if  there  would  have  been  some  sense  in  it !  But 
now  the  conditions  are.  genuine  repentance  and  faith.  These 
I  had  no  heart  to  perform,  and  could  do  nothing  to  lay  God 
under  obligation  to  assist  me  by  his  special  grace.  All  was 
thus  out  of  my  reach,  —  and  I  must  be  damned  after  all  I 
could  do !  Thus  my  spirit  fretted  against  the  Lord.  My 
blasphemous  heart  was  ready  to  think  that  I  could  have  made 
better  terms  of  salvation  myself?  Why  can 't  I  be  converted 
when  I  have  done  so  much  ?  I  have  done  all  I  can,  and  yet 
I  must  go  to  hell !  I  was  not  aware,  at  the  time,  that  these 
horrid  and  blasphemous  exercises  of  mind  were  enmity 
against  God.  Again  I  would  betake  me  to  my  selfish 
prayers ;  and  would  hope  that,  if  I  prayed  and  cried  a  great 
deal,  the  Lord  would  not  be  so  hard-hffarted  and  cruel  as, 
after  all,  to  cast  me  off  forever.  Sometimes  I  would  think 
of  giving  up  all  means  ;  and  would  say  to  myself, '  It  is  all 
in  vain,  —  damnation  will  be  my  portion  in  spite  of  every 
thing.'  Then  I  would  wish  that  I  had  never  been  born,  and 
grudge  the  brutes  their  happiness.  They  had  no  immortal 
souls  to  be  called  into  judgment ;  and  I  was  ready  to  wish  I 
had  been  made  one  of  them.  Why  should  the  Lord  make 
rational  creatures  to  be  forever  miserable?  Sometimes  I 
would  try  to  think, '  May  there  not  be  some  way  to  mitigate 
hell-torments,  —  some  way  to  make  them  tolerable  ? '  But 
such  vain  imaginations  would  be  scattered  by  the  dreadful 
Scriptures,  which  describe  the  wicked  as  being  doomed  to 
everlasting  fire ;  and  their  employment  as  being  "  wailing 
and  gnashing  of  teeth"  —  all  intolerable!  —  oh,  how  dread- 
ful !  I  have  not  bones  of  iron,  nor  sinews  of  brass  to  endure 
the  indignation  of  Jehovah  !  And  if  I  had,  what  would  they 
avail  before  him  who  overturns  the  mountains  in  his  wrath  ? 

4  During  the  winter  of  1776-7, 1  was  three  months  in  the 
revolutionary  army.  I  met  with  many  trials,  but  succeeded  in 
maintaining  the  form  of  secret  prayer.  I  was  glad  to  be 


JOTHA  MSB  WALL.  15 

called  into  no  engagement,  as  my  convictions  of  sin  made  me 
much  afraid  of  death. 

<  When  I  was  not  far  from  twenty-one  years  of  age,  I  read 
a  sermon  which  exposed  the  insufficiency  and  folly  of  self- 
righteousness.  I  felt  the  force  of  the  reasoning,  and  was  con- 
vinced that  I  had  been  self-righteous.  I  resolved  that  I  would 
be  so  no  more,  but  would  try  to  trust  in  Christ.  I  then 
thought  that  I  had  freed  myself  of  this  sin,  though  I  had  no 
idea  I  was  convicted.  Not  long  afterwards,  in  giving  a  reason 
of  the  hope  that  he  was  a  Christian,  I  heard  a  man  express 
the  conviction,  that,  while  praying  in  secret  and  in  his  family 
before  conversion,  he  was  hypocritical  and  self-righteous.  I 
thought  with  myself,  Shall  I  ever  have  to  say  as  that  man 
says  ?  I  am  not  converted ;  but  if  I  should  be,  whatever  I 
may  have  to  throw  away,  it  will  not  be  self-righteousness,  — 
for  I  fancied  that  I  was  already  free  from  tliat,  so  blind  was 
I  to  my  real  condition  !  I  afterwards  saw  that  I  had  made  a 
righteousness  of  my  resolution  that  I  would  not  be  self-right- 
eous !  So  true  it  is  that  "  the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  desperately  wicked." 

The  following  incident,  which  seems  to  have  occurred  in 
the  autumn  of  1782,  illustrates  the  pestilential  influence  of 
religious  error,  and  should  operate  as  a  warning  to  youth  and 
to  all,  to  avoid  those,  both  in  private  and  public,  by  whom  it 
is  advocated.  The  incident  also  shows  the  importance  of  im- 
pressing, early  and  deeply,  upon  the  minds  of  children  and 
youth  the  great  truths  of  revelation,  that  they  may  be  guarded 
against  such  attacks,  more  or  less  of  which,  in  different  forms, 
they  will  be  likely  to  encounter.  If  the  subject  of  this  narra- 
tive had  been  less  faithfully  instructed  in  early  life,  or  had  had 
before  him  a  less  impressive  example  of  piety,  success  might 
have  attended  the  effort  described  below  ;  and  had  it  succeed- 
ed, how  different  would  have  been  his  life,  and  how  different 
his  death,  —  and  not  his  alone  !  —  'I  fell  into  the  society  of  a 
deist ;  and  heard  him,  to  my  astonishment,  blasphemously 


16 


MEMOIR     OF 


decry  the  Bible.  I  had  never  before  heard  deistical  senti- 
ments advanced.  I  tried  to  withstand  him,  but  with  poor 
success.  All  religion,  (he  argued,)  is  built  upon  the  prejudice 
of  education.  You,  said  he,  believe  the  Christian  religion, 
because  you  have  been  so  taught.  Papists,  Mohammedans, 
and  Pagans,  believe  and  practise  their  religions,  from  the 
traditions  of  their  fathers.  Had  you  been  educated  as  they 
have  been,  you  would  have  believed  as  they  do.  This  was 
plausible,  and  I  was  obliged  to  assent.  I  believed,  however, 
that  there  were  arguments  in  favor  of  the  Christian  religion 
which  could  be  found  in  favor  of  no  other.  The  best  evidence 
to  one's  self,  I  believed  to  be,  an  experience  of  the  power  of 
Divine  truth  upon  the  soul.  Here  I  was  deficient.  And,  in 
spite  of  all  my  efforts  to  fortify  my  mind  against  his  sarcasm, 
the  thought  would  sometimes  press  upon  me,  How  do  I  know 
that  the  Bible  is  true  ?  How  do  I  know  that  it  is  not  a  piece 
of  priest-craft,  or  an  invention  of  men  ?  And  here  would 
come  a  temptation  to  give  up  to  infidelity.  I  was  harassed 
by  his  profane  jests  upon  Solomon's  Song,  and  some  other 
parts  of  the  Bible ;  and  was  sometimes  ready  to  wish  that 
the  former  of  these  had  been  omitted  from  the  sacred  canon. 
But  had  it  been  omitted,  I  should  have  been  deprived  of 
much  comfort  to  my  soul  which  I  have  since  experienced. 
Once,  when  tempted  to  fall  in  with  infidelity,  the  passage, 
"  Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  lean  not  to  thine  own  understanding," 
came  to  my  mind  with  considerable  force.  The  command 
appeared  reasonable.  To  throw  away  the  Bible  seemed  to 
be  like  giving  up  everything  valuable.  And  though  I  had 
not  the  best  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  system  by 
experiencing  its  power.  I  had  that  which  is  next  to  it,  —  the 
experience  of  those  whose  veracity  I  would  scarcely  sooner 
doubt  than  the  things  which  I  personally  knew. 

'This  shock  of  infidelity  forwarded  my  convictions  m  a 
certain  way.  It  impressed  upon  me  more  deeply  the  neces- 
sity and  importance  of  knowing  religion  by  my  own  personal 


JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  17 

experience.  When  I  was  brought  to  see  the  entire  sinfulness 
of  my  heart,  I  remember  to  have  said  to  myself,  —  I  want  no 
better  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  than  to  look  into  that, 
and  then  into  my  own  heart :  I  find  my  heart  to  be  just  what 
the  Bible  describes  it  to  be  — full  of  evil.  No  one  but  He  who 
searches  the  heart  and  tries  the  reins  of  the  children  of  men, 
could  furnish  a  description  so  exact  as  that  which  I  there  find. 
'In  the  latter  part  of  March,  1783,  being  a  little  past  my 
twenty-third  year,  I  heard  a  sermon  read  in  a  Sabbath  meet- 
ing at  Bath  from  Boston's  "  Fourfold  State."  Regeneration 
was  spoken  of  under  the  figure  of  cutting  off  from  the  old 
stock,  and  grafting  into  the  new.  The  writer  enumerated 
many  blows  of  the  axe  of  the  law,  (as  he  phrased  it,)  in  the 
hands  of  the  Spirit,  which  the  natural  man  will  sustain,  and 
still  hold  to  the  old  stock.  I  found  that  I  had  sustained  many 
of  them,  but  was  still  united  to  the  old  stock.  When  he 
described  some  of  the  last  separating  blows,  and  the  person's 
being  engrafted  into  the  new  stock,  and  drawing  sap  and 
nourishment  from  it,  I  found  that  I  was  a  stranger  to 
regeneration.  After  meeting,  I  retired  to  a  lonely  place,  and 
there  reflected  on  my  condition.  I  had  been  praying  daily 
for  more  than  ten  years,  in  the  hope  of  being  converted,  and 
I  was  no  nearer  to  it  than  ever.  Indeed,  it  seemed  that  I 
was  farther  than  ever  from  it.  I  was  in  the  hands  of  a 
sovereign  God.  He  could  convert  me  in.  a  moment,  if  he 
pleased.  But  I  could  do  nothing  to  lay  him  under  obligation. 
I  then  saw  that  I  had  done  nothing  right.  My  praying, 
reading  the  Bible,  going  to  meeting,  were  all  from  selfish 
motives.  God  had  required  me  to  do  everything  to  his  glory. 
But  I  had  done  nothing  with  that  design.  My  sole  object 
had  been  my  own  happiness.  I  wished  to  avoid  misery,  and 
be  happy.  I  had  cared  nothing  for  the  glory  of  God,  if  my 
selfish  interests  were  secured.  I  then  saw,  to  my  astonish- 
ment, that  in  all  my  supposed  good  performances,  I  had  done 
nothing  but  sin.  My  entire  life  had  be^n  a  series  of  rebel- 
2* 


18  >r K ii o i n  OF 

lion  against  God.  I  wondered  that  he  had  not  long  before 
entered  into  judgment  with  me,  and  cast  me  off  forever. 
This,  should  he  then  do  it,  appeared  so  just,  that  I  could  not 
open  my  mouth  against  it,  I  was  then  to  surrender  myself, 
without  reserve,  into  the  hands  of  a  sovereign,  holy,  just  God. 
My  distress  left  me ;  I  felt  calm,  and  knew  not  what  to 
think  of  this ;  but  feared  that  I  had  lost  all  my  convictions, 
and  was  about  being  given  up  of  God.  If  he  should  send  me 
to  perdition,  I  knew  it  would  be  just ;  for  it  seemed  to  me 
that  I  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  sinners,  —  worse,  even,  than 
the  openly  profane.  In  them  there  appeared  to  be  a  kind  of 
honesty  and  consistency,  even  when  they  went  swearing  about 
the  streets  —  they  told  every-body  what  they  were.  But  I 
had  been  playing  the  hypocrite,  by  covering  up  the  enormity 
of  my  heart  under  the  show  of  morality  and  a  decent  outward 
attention  to  religion.  I  appeared  to  myself  worse  in  the  sight 
of  God  than  the  openly  profane.  It  no  longer  appeared  hard 
and  unjust  in  God  not  to  notice  or  allow  me  anything  for  my 
good  works  as  recommending  me  to  him.  What  I  had 
esteemed  such,  were  performed  with  such  selfish  motives,  as 
to  render  me  most  odious  in  the  sight  of  God.  I  had  been 
adding  sin  to  sin.'and  treasuring  up  wrath  against  the  day  of 
wrath.  Oh !  what  a  wonder  of  mercy  it  was,  that  I  had  not 
sunk  down  under  the  load  of  my  guilt,  and  received  the  just 
reward  of  my  sins !  I  saw  that  God  had  provided  a  way  in 
\vhich  he  could  convert,  and  pardon,  and  save,  such  sinners, 
and  glorify  himself,  if  he  pleased.  But  it  lay  with  him  en- 
tirely to  show  mercy,  or  leave  me  to  perish.  I  was  led  to 
plead,  (like  a  condemned  criminal  for  his  life,)  with  great 
earnestness  and  many  tears,  that  the  Lord  would,  in  great 
mercy,  save  me  from  everlasting  misery,  if  he  possibly  could, 
consistently  with  his  purposes.  The  words  of  Esau  to  his 
father  came  to  my  mind  with  great  force,  and  I  turned  them 
into  a  prayer  to  God  :  "  Hast  thou  not  one  blessing  for  me, 
even  for  me,"  poor  and  hell-deserving  as  I  am  ?  I  continued 


JOTHAM    SEWALL.  19 

in  this  state  of  mind  for  several  days,  feeling  very  tender,  and 
resolved  that  if  I  perished,  to  perish  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  beg- 
ging for  mercy.  One  evening,  while  I  was  engaged  in  private 
prayer,  the  plan  of  salvation  by  Christ  opened  to  my  view  in 
a  new  and  intensely  interesting  manner.  I  saw  how  God 
could  be  just,  and  justify  the  ungodly  who  believe  in  Jesus, 
without  any  reference  to  their  good  works.  It  looked  exceed- 
ingly, inexpressibly  glorious.  I  was  filled  with  wonder,  that 
I  had  never  so  seen  it  before.  I  had  been  trained  from  infancy 
to  believe  that  salvation  is  through  Christ ;  and  I  thought  I 
believed  it.  But  it  had  never  appeared  as  it  did  then.  I  saw 
that  God  would  have  all  the  glory  of  man's  salvation,  and  the 
creature  be  forever  blessed.  In  receiving  this  salvation,  and 
relying  only  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  was  filled  with  joy. 
And  I  was  ready  to  inquire,  Can  these  be  the  feelings  and  views 
of  regenerate  persons  ?  Is  it  possible  that  I  am  renewed  ? 
What !  rid  of  all  my  fears  in  this  new  and  unlooked-for  man- 
ner ?  If  this  is  religion,  it  is  what  I  never  had  an  idea  of 
before.  My  plan  had  been :  I  must  pray,  and  use  means, 
and  come  up  to  the  hedge  which  I  call  conversion,  and  there 
the  Lord  must  meet  me  and  take  me  over.  But  I  had  to 
give  up  all  my  notions  about  the  hedge,  and  "  hear  a  voice 
behind  me,  saying,  This  is  the  way  ;  walk  ye  in  it ! "  I  was 
at  a  loss  what  conclusion  to  form.  After  a  while,  however,  I 
thought  I  might  say  as  much  as  the  blind  man :  "  Whereas  I 
was  once  blind,  now  I  see."  Things  appeared  as  I  never 
saw  them  before.  The  Bible  was  new.  All  creation  around 
me  assumed  a  new  aspect,  and  seemed  to  be  praising  God. 
And  Christians,  when  I  had  an  opportunity  to  hear  them 
converse  on  experimental  religion,  appeared  new ;  and  my 
heart  was  drawn  out  in  love  to  them  as  never  before.  The 
change  produced  in  me  caused  me  to  love  things  which  I  for- 
merly hated,  and  hate  things  I  once  loved.  Old  things  seemed 
to  have  passed  away,  and  all  things  become  new.  And  I 


20  MEMOIR    OF 

ventured,  with  much  trembling,  to  indulge  a  little  hope  that  I 
had  passed  from  death  to  life. 

'  About  the  first  disclosure  of  my  feelings  was  to  a  pious 
man,  considerably  older  than  myself.  It  was  in  a  course  of 
conversation,  somewhat  inadvertently.  He  inquired,  How 
long  have  you  had  such  feelings  ?  At  my  reply  he  expressed 
much  pleasure,  and  dropped  something  from  which  I  inferred 
it  as  his  opinion,  that,  probably,  I  had  experienced  religion. 
On  parting  with  him,  the  thought  arose :  What  have  you 
been  doing  ?  You  have  been  conversing  in  such  a  way,  as 
probably  to  give  that  man  the  impression  that  you  are  a 
Christian  ;  and,  likely  as  not,  you  are  deceived,  and  will  turn 
out  to  be  nothing  but  a  hypocrite.  I  thought  I  would  be  more 
cautious  how  I  conversed  in  time  to  come.  But  when  I  fell 
into  the  company  of  Christians,  I  heard  them  converse  on 
experimental  religion,  and  was  off  my  guard  again,  and  would 
say  something  about  my  own  feelings,  till  eventually  it  became 
a  common  thing  with  me.  The  saying  of  our  Lord  must  and 
will  be  true,  "  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart,  the  mouth 
speaketh."  I  had  not,  however,  much  opportunity  of  Chris- 
tian conversation,  being  here  and  there  at  work  at  my  trade, 
[brick-laying  ;  ]  and,  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  I  became 
rather  lifeless  in  religion  ;  but  was  again  quickened. 

'  Some  two  or  three  years  after  experiencing  the  above- 
related  change,  my  oldest  brother  came  to  Augusta,  Maine, 
then  a  part  of  Hallowell,  where  he  concluded  to  settle.  He 
had  been  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war,  from  its  beginning 
to  its  end.  When  he  was  at  home  on  furlough,  our  mother 
would  converse  with  him  so  seriously,  especially  before  he 
left,  that  he  could  not  forbear  weeping.  He  would  sometimes 
express  fears  that  his  mother  would  spoil  him  for  a  soldier. 
After  his  coming  to  Augusta,  I  had  frequent  interviews  with 
him,  and  felt  much  for  him  in  private,  regarding  him  as  un- 
converted. Having  occasion  to  go  to  Bath  and  Georgetown, 
he  spent  a  Sabbath  in  the  latter  place,  and  heard  Rev.  Mr. 


JOTHAMSEWALL.  21 

Emerson  preach.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered. 
The  table  was  spread  along  the  broad  aisle,  and  in  the  cross 
aisle  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  around  which  the  communicants 
were  seated.  [Presbyterian  forms  then  prevailed  somewhat 
in  the  region.]  The  congregation  generally  tarried  to  witness 
the  solemnity.  My  brother  was  somewhat  impressed  with 
the  tragical  form  of  the  table,  resembling,  as  it  did,  the  in- 
strument of  the  Saviour's  death.  The  services  of  the  day, 
and  the  conversation  of  Christian  friends  in  Bath  and  Wool- 
wich, revived  and  deepened  former  convictions.  He  returned 
to  Augusta  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  In  the  lower  part 
of  Pittston,  the  road  lay  through  about  two  miles  of  unbroken 
forest.  While  passing  that,  light  and  peace  broke  in  upon 
his  mind.  Afterward,  the  passage  descriptive  of  the  place 
where  the  ark  was  found  on  being  returned  by  the  Philistines 
and  the  joy  of  Israel  on  that  occasion,  came  forcibly  to  his 
mind :  "  We  heard  of  it  at  Ephratah ;  we  found  it  in  the 
fields  of  the  wood."*  This  change  in  my  brother  was,  to  me, 
an  occasion  of  great  joy.  But  when,  upon  conversing  with 
him,  I  found  him  so  strong  and  full  of  assurance,  I  began  to 
think  that  my  own  conversion  was  worthless.  This,  for  a 
time,  was  a  trial.  At  length  I  was  brought  to  see  that  the 
reality  of  religion  was  to  be  determined,  not  by  its  quantity, 
but  by  its  quality.  I  was  then  ready  to  compare  myself  to  a 
pettish  child,  crying  for  a  piece  of  cake,  who,  when  it  was 
given,  threw  it  away,  because  it  was  not  large  enough.  I 
was  led  to  reflect  on  my  feelings  when  crying  for  mercy  before 
I  obtained  evidence  of  my  acceptance  with  God.  I  thought 

*  This  excellent  man.  General  Henry  Sewall,  a  few  hours  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  September  5,  1845,  roused  from  a  state  of 
debility  and  prostration,  and  with  much  animation  repeated  to  a 
Christian  friend  the  history  of  his  conversion,  —  thus  bringing  to- 
gether the  commencement  and  end  of  his  religious  life  on  earth. 
According  to  the  recollection  of  that  friend,  he  alighted  from  his 
horse,  retired  into  the  wood,  and  there,  in  the  act  of  giving  himself 
away  to  God,  found  peace. 


22  MEMOIR     OF 

I  would  be  content  with  the  least  crumb  —  the  least  grain  — 
the  least  spark  of  grace,  if  it  was  only  real  grace. 

*  Not  long  after  this,  some  awaking  existed  in  the  minds  of 
some  impenitent  persons  around  me.     There  being  no  good 
preaching  near,  the  setting  up  of  a  society-meeting  on  the 
Sabbath  in  a  private  house  was  proposed.     The  movement  I 
felt  it  my  duty  to  forward.     When  the  time  and  place  were 
agreed  upon,  I  took  pains  to  circulate  the  information.    .But 
I  was  sorely  tried,  lest  I  should  be  called  upon  to  assist  in 
the  proposed  meeting.      Not   knowing  what  to   do,  I  was 
enabled  to  trust  the  matter  with  God.*    When  the  time  came, 
being  called  upon  to  lead  in  prayer,  though  greatly  tried,  I 
ventured  forward,  and  had  such  unexpected  assistance,  that  I 
felt  quite  strong.     This,  with  some  attending  circumstances, 
occasioned  my  enjoying,  for  a  time,  quite  an  assurance  of  my 
good  estate.     Others  spoke  of  my  gift  in  prayer,  and  wished 
me  to  lead  in  this  exercise  at  almost  every  meeting.     Before 
I  was  aware  of  it,  I  was  quite  proud  of  my  gifts.     [Is  there 
any  danger,  that,  in  other  instances,  a  pretended  Christian 
assurance  may  be  built  on  such  a  foundation  ?  J     But  I  soon 
met  with  something  to  humble  me.     It  was  really  needful.    I 
know  not  what  lengths  of  self-confidence  I  should  have  reach- 
ed, had  not  he  Lord  in  the  course  of  his  providence  given  me 
a  timely  check.     Thanks  to  His  name  for  it.     Though  many 
reflections  were  painful,  the  interposition  of  Divine  providence 
was  truly  seasonable.     Many  times  since,  when  I  have  met 
with  young  converts,  who  were  very  zealous  and  not  too  much 
seasoned  with  humility,  I  have  looked  back  upon  myself,  I 
have  deeply  felt  the  importance  to  me  and  other  followers 
of  Christ,  of  being  thoroughly  imbued  with  his  meek  and 
quiet  spirit.     Some  things  in  my  own  carriage  toward  my 

*  The  following  entry  in  his  journal  probably  designates  the  time 
and  place  of  this  meeting.     'April  17,  1785.     Sabbath.     Gathered  a 
private  meeting  at  Esq.  Pettingill's.'  [Augusta.] 


JOTHAMSEWALL.  23 

superiors  in  social  standing  and  in  grace,  have  since  caused 
me  many  bitter  reflections.  I  have  longed  for  an  opportunity 
to  confess  to  them  my  faults.  But  they  have  gone,  I  hope 
to  heaven ;  and  I  can  never  have  it  in  this  world.  I  cannot 
retrace  my  steps,  and  undo  the  wrong  I  have  done.  But  I 
am  deeply  sorry  for  it,  and  lament  it  before  God.  May  the 
remembrance  operate  as  an  effectual  guard  in  future.  My 
sins,  of  heart  and  life,  are  many  and  aggravated.  I  have 
sometimes  thought  that,  could  they  be  distributed  among  the 
whole  human  family,  so  that  a  share  should  belong  to  each  as 
his  own,  they  would  be  sufficient,  without  any  other  cause,  to 
sink  the  whole  world,  of  all  generations,  to  endless  perdition ! 
For  this  fearful  amount  of  sin  and  guilt,  I  must  give  account 
to  God  at  last !  But  one  drop  of  Christ's  atoning  blood  can 
remove  it  all !  What  a  wonderful  device  is  the  way  of  pardon 
and  salvation  through  a  crucified  Redeemer ! ' 

Most  of  the  years  1784  and  1785,  he  appears  to  have 
spent  in  Augusta  and  vicinity.  A  few  extracts  from  his 
diary,*  exhibiting  the  exercises  of  his  mind  and  the  character 
of  his  piety  in  various  respects,  will  doubtless  be  gratifying  to 
the  reader.  As  it  will  be  interesting  to  some  to  have  the 
names  of  persons  retained,  and  to  none  (it  is  thought)  can  it 
be  unpleasant  or  offensive,  especially  at  this  distance  of  time, 
they  are  mostly  in  this  part  of  his  life  retained.  John  and 
William  Bradbury,  (whose  names  will  occasionally  be  seen,) 
after  being  settled  in  life,  were  his  neighbors.  They  were 
sons  of  Deacon  Bradbury  of  York,  who  was  a  near  neighbor 
to  his  father. 

Being  at  Georgetown,  Sabbath,  May  1,  1785,  we  find  the 
following  entry  :  <  Went  to  meeting ;  had  a  comfortable  day. 
Found  freedom  to  converse  with  William  Bradbury  and 

*  He  kept  a  diary  from  Jan.  1,  1778,  till  within  twenty  days  of  his 
death.  He  did  not,  however,  make  any  record  of  the  state  and  exer- 
cises of  his  mind  till  1785.  His  diary  remains  nearly  entire. 


24  MEM  OIK     OF  [1785. 

Samuel  Sewall.*  The  good  Lord  bless  it  to  the  good  of  their 
souls.  Mr.  Emerson  preached  from  1  Pet.  5:7,"  The  end 
of  all  things  is  at  hand."  Found  a  dulness  in  the  evening. 
"  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ! "  for  humbling  mercies,  — 
sometimes  more  needful  than  exalting  ones :  "  The  trial  of 
your  faith  worketh  patience."  Thursday,  May  5.  '  Felt  a 
solemn  sense  of  God's  presence ;  and  was  enabled,  in  some 
measure,  to  be  faithful  for  his  cause.  The  Lord  bless  it,  and 
take  all  the  glory  to  his  great  name.' 

The  next  day,  at  work  on  a  chimney  in  Winthrop,  he  says : 
« Felt  clear  hi  mind,  calm,  patient,  believing :  praise  God.' 
The  day  following,  hi  the  same  business,  being  much  alone, 
he  says  :  "  I  pray  God  that  this  golden  opportunity  may  not 
be  lost  to  my  soul,  but  improved  in  self-examination ;  for 
which  I  beg  thine  assistance  to  keep  me  humble.  Oh  !  that 
I  may  not  fall  into  folly  and  jesting,  as  I  have  spent  much 
precious  tune  heretofore.  "  Were  there  not  ten  cleansed  ? 
But  where  are  the  nine  ?  "  How  little  glory  have  I  given  to 
God  for  being  cleansed  from  the  leprosy  of  sin !  Has  not 
nine  tenths  of  my  time  been  spent  in  vanity  ?  Oh !  for  a 
sense  of  God's  mercy  to  an  undeserving  wretch !  Search 
and  try  me,  O  God,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. 

'  Sabbath,  8th.  Received  blessed  consolation  from  the 
word  of  God,  and  especially  these  words :  "  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled :  Ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also  in  me," 
etc.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  for  every  crumb  of  mercy.  I  am 
surrounded  on  every  side  with  mercy.  The  good  Lord  fit  me 
for  trials,  and  keep  me  in  the  hour  of  temptation  ;  and  grant 
me  yet  this  one  favor,  a  thankful  heart  for  mercies  already 
received,  if  I  am  to  have  no  more  in  this  world.' 

Soon  after  this,  in  conversation  with  a  Quaker,  he  speaks 

*  This,  from  subsequent  notices,  appears  to  have  been  the  person, 
who  afterward  becoming  a  minister,  labored  for  many  years  in  Edge- 
comb,  Georgetown,  Phipsburg,  and  Isle  of  Shoals  near  Portsmouth, 
and  died  in  Rye,  N.  H. 


Dec.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  25 

of  being  assisted  in  holding  up  the  law ;  but,  for  his  pride, 
was  suffered  to  err  in  another  point.  He  blesses  God  for 
this  as  a  correction,  intended  and  calculated  to  humble  the 
pride  of  his  heart.  The  next  day  he  saw  the  Quaker,  and 
retracted  what  he  had  erroneously  advanced  :  and,  (regarding 
the  Quaker  as  a  renewed  man,  though  they  could  not  agree 
on  some  points  of  doctrine,)  begs  of  God  not  to  suffer  his 
pride  or  prejudice  to  hinder  charity  and  union. 

Sabbath,  June  5th,  he  speaks  of  a  meeting  at  Squire  Pet- 
tingill's,  Augusta ;  of  feeling  the  power  of  God ;  and  of  several 
persons  being  under  conviction. 

December  23,  being  at  York,  and  conversing  with  a  good 
lady  who  appeared  much  engaged  in  religion,  he  says :  '  But 
I  felt  very  dull,  —  a  proud  sinner.  It  will  be  a  miracle  of 
Divine  grace  if  I  am  ever  saved.  I  beg  to  have  my  proud 
heart  subdued ;  my  stubborn  will  subdued ;  my  alienated 
affections  turned  and  chained  to  God,  —  disengaged  from 
everything  this  side  heaven.  I  pray  that  I  may  never  find 
one  spark  of  comfort  till  I  find  it  by  the  application  of  Christ's 
blood  to  my  guilty  conscience.' 

Soon  after  this,  spending  a  night  at  the  family  of  an  uncle, 
he  says :  '  Was  not  enabled  to  say  anything  to  the  young 
folks.  The  Lord  is  just,  to  stop  my  mouth  for  my  pride. 
Humility  is  what  I  daily  pray  for  ;  and  I  desire  to  take  it  in 
the  way  in  which  God  pleases  to  send  it.'  His  habits,  in  two 
respects,  as  in  many  other  places,  are  here  indicated  —  that 
of  aiming  to  carry  religion  wherever  he  went ;  and  of  improv- 
ing everything  to  the  good  of  his  own  soul.  A  few  weeks 
afterwards,  he  makes  a  different  record :  '  Went  to  Sister 
Carlisle's*  in  the  evening.  Offered  prayer  with  a  number 
of  young  people.  Had  a  refreshing  time  to  my  own  soul. 
P.  B.  struck  some.  The  Lord  grant  that  it  may  prove 
effectual.' 

In  1786,  we  find  him  beginning  to  clear  his  farm  in  Ches- 
*  His  youngest  sister,  Abigail. 
.3 


26  MEMOIR    OF  [1786. 

terville,  which  was  then  called  Chester.  Settlements  had 
been  commenced  in  Farmington,  and  in  other  places  in  the 
neighborhood  ;  but  only  two  families  were  before  him  in  that 
part  of  Chesterville  where  he  commenced.  A  few  other 
young  men  began  at  nearly  the  same  time.  The  spot  he 
selected  constituted  his  home  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He 
began  by  clearing  away  the  forest,  and  erecting  "  a  camp ; " 
and,  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  he  built  a  barn.  Too  many, 
on  thus  almost  forsaking  society,  and  burying  themselves  in 
the  forest,  would  have  left  many  of  the  activities  of  religion 
behind  them.  They  would  have  felt  that  their  business  was 
to  prepare  a  home ;  and  that  after  that  was  accomplished, 
and  they  were  settled  in  life,  it  would  be  their  duty  to  serve 
God.  It  was  not  so  with  him.  He  felt  that,  in  every  situa- 
tion, his  business  was  to  serve  God.  He  acted  on  this  prin- 
ciple. He  struggled  constantly  against  the  remains  of  sin 
which  he  found  within  him.  He  kept  his  own  light  trimmed 
and  burning.  Indeed,  it  may  be  said  of  him,  in  an  uncommon 
degree,  that  his  light  was  never  suffered  materially  to  wane. 
He  maintained  daily  and  constant  communion  with  God. 

At  this  period  of  his  life,  he  appears  to  have  had  seasons  of 
secret  prayer  in  the  morning,  at  noon,  at  sunset,  and  in  the 
evening.  In  whatever  household  he  was,  whether  as  a  boarder 
or  for  a  night,  family  prayer  was  offered.  And  when  he  lived 
alone  in  his  "  camp,"  God's  blessing  was  asked,  and  thanks 
returned,  over  all  his  meals.  And  prayer  to  him  was  a 
spiritual,  holy,  heavenly  feast.  It  was  a  pouring  out  of  his 
soul  before  the  mercy  seat,  in  thanksgiving  and  supplication. 
If,  (as  at  times,)  it  was  otherwise,  he  mourned  over  it  as  a 
hungry  child  would,  who,  in  the  place  of  a  needed  and  rich 
repast,  found  only  husks,  — nay,  more,  with  bitterness  as  one 
who  had  committed  a  great  sin.  If  professed  Christiana 
around  him  fell  asleep  or  appeared  lifeless  in  religion,  they 
were  made  special  subjects  of  prayer.  In  behalf  of  the  im- 
penitent—  neighbors,  relatives,  acquaintances  —  he  besought 


May,  Juno.]  .7  o  T  rr  A  M   s  K  w  A  L  i, .  27 

God,  and,  not  unfrequently,  with  an  agony  of  desire.  That 
God  would  convert  sinners,  and  build  up  his  kingdom  in  the 
wilderness  he  inhabited  ;  that  he  would  bless  the  church, 
especially  in  places  in  which  he  had  been  conversant ;  that 
he  would  pity  and  save  the  lost  and  perishing  everywhere, 
and  soon  convert  the  world,  and  fill  it  with  his  glory ;  were 
subjects  of  his  frequent  and  earnest  supplication. 

This  abundantly  appears  from  his  diary,  a  few  extracts 
from  which  follow :  — 

'1786,  May  26.  Had  a  refreshing  time  in  the  morning. 
Desired  to  stretch  forth  my  hands  to  the  Lord,  and  to  have 
him  gird  me,  and  lead  me  whither  he  will.  Oh,  to  feel  like 
clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter.  Good  Lord,  wilt  thou  re- 
member this  dry  place,  and  pour  upon  it  a  refreshing  shower 
of  grace,  that  thine  heritage  may  increase,  and  flourish,  and 
praise  thy  great  name.'  [He  was  now  at  Augusta  for  a  few 
days.] 

'June  27.  Felt  my  thoughts  more  at  liberty  from  present 
things  than  they  have  been  lately.  Oh.  to  be  disengaged  from 
every  object  but  God.  Change  me,  oh  God,  till  I  am  swal- 
lowed up  in  conformity  to  thee.  Heal  my  backslidings,  par- 
don past  offences,  and  give  me  grace  for  time  to  come  for 
Jesus  Christ's  sake,  who  paid  the  very  last  mite  to  thy  holy 
law  and  justice.' 

The  following  extract  is  interesting,  not  only  for  its  charac- 
ter, but  as  being  an  account  of  the  commencement  of  a  series 
of  society  meetings  on  the  Sabbath,*  in  the  place  of  his  resi- 
dence, which  were  continued,  with  only  occasional  interrup- 
tions, for  more  than  thirty  years,  till  a  meeting-house  was 
built  in  the  place,  and  preaching,  by  different  orders  of  Chris- 
tians, became  somewhat  common  :  — 

'  August  27.     Sabbath.     Had  a  humbling,  melting  season 

*  In  these  meetings  a  sermon  was  read  in  connection  with  the 
usual  devotional  exercises  on  tlie  Sabbath. 


28  MEMOIR    OF  [178G. 

to  my  soul  in  family  prayer.  D.  Sewall  [at  whose  house  he 
probably  was],  seemed  to  lay  heavy  on  my  soul.  May  God 
grant  him  repentance  and  forgiveness  of  sin,  through  his  dear 
Son. 

<  John  and  William  Bradbury,  Samuel  Sewall,  and  myself, 
met  with  Thomas  and  Abraham  Davenport  at  their  camp,  for 
the  purpose  of  fasting  and  prayer ;  that  God  would  preserve 
and  keep  alive  the  sparks  of  holiness  which  we  trust  he  has 
planted  in  each  of  our  souls ;  that  he  would  cause  his  church 
to  be  established  and  built  up  in  this  wilderness ;  that  he 
would  appear  for  his  cause  at  Hallowell ;  that  he  would  cause 
a  general  reformation  through  the  land  ;  and  that  he  would 
cause  his  kingdom  to  spread  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the 
river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  go  forward 
first  in  the  morning.  Felt  the  power  of  God  on  my  soul. 
We  spent  the  day  in  praying  and  reading,  by  turns.  Samuel 
Sewall,  when  his  turn  came,  was  so  filled  with  the  power  of 
God  that  he  could  not  utter  himself,  and  professed,  afterward, 
that  it  was  almost  as  much  as  he  could  live  under.  When  he 
had  ended  prayer,  it  fell  on  William  Bradbury  in  like  man- 
ner, and  overpowered  him  with  a  desire  for  souls.  We  con- 
cluded the  exercises  of  the  day  with  praise  and  thanksgiving 
to  God  for  his  signal  goodness  in  meeting  with  a  handful  of 
worms.  Take  all  the  glory  to  thy  great  Name,  blessed  God, 
—  for  surely  the  work  is  wholly  thine.' 

The  notice  of  their  meetings  afterward,  is  frequently  very 
interesting. 

'September  17.  Sabbath.  Meeting  at  my  cottage;  and 
I  have  reason  to  think  that  God  condescended  to  meet  with 
us,  especially  in  the  after  part  of  the  day.  Samuel  Sewall, 
while  at  prayer,  was  remarkably  filled  with  the  power  of 
God.*  William  Bradbury,  also.  I  felt  solemn,  and  was 

*  This  phrase  seems  to  have  been  f-omewhat  frequently  used  at  that 
time  to  mean,  a  deep  sense  of  spiritual  and  eternal  things. 


Sept.  J  J  O  T  II  AM    S  E  TV  ALL.  29 

enabled  to  witness  for  God,  that  he  was  present.  Most  seemed 
to  be  some  affected.  Oh,  that  God  would  take  hold  of  every 
unregenerate  heart  by  his  almighty  power.  Had  a  good  season 
in  the  evening.  God's  holy  name  be  praised.' 

As  in  the  case  of  every  other  Christian,  seasons  of  dark- 
ness and  doubt  occurred. 

1  September  26.  Felt  quite  dull  since  yesterday  morning ; 
but  experienced  some  relief  this  evening.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel. 

'  27.  Somewhat  senseless  again.  My  leaky  soul  retains 
nothing  any  longer  than  God  is  pouring  in.' 

October  2d,  after  closing  his  day's  work,  he  says :  — 

'  Had  a  powerful  season  in  the  evening.  Poured  out  my 
soul  to  God,  that  he  would  pour  out  his  Spirit  on  Bath.' 

He  appears  to  have  felt  a  deep  interest  for  the  church  in 
Augusta,  and  often  presented  special  prayer  in  its  behalf.  An 
event  occurred  this  year  which  augmented  that  interest.  A 
minister  had  received  a  call  to  settle,  with  whom  he  at  first 
appeared  satisfied  as  a  good  man  ;  but  the  soundness  of  whose 
doctrinal  views  he  afterward  doubted,  and  whose  settlement 
he  feared  would  be  an  injury  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the 
place.  Happening  there,  October  fourth,  he  united  with  a 
few  who  observed  a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer  to  confess 
their  sins  and  to  implore  the  Divine  assistance  and  direction 
in  duty  respecting  the  proposed  ordination,  which  was  soon  to 
take  place ;  and  he  speaks  of  enjoying  a  peculiarly  solemn 
and  interesting  season. 

'  October  30.  "Was  much  troubled  with  lightness  and  vanity. 
"  I  am  more  brutish  than  any  man."  But  had  a  comfortable 
time  in  the  evening,  —  blessed  be  God.  Oh,  to  feel  thankful. 
Oli,  to  be  emptied  of  everything  but  the  holy,  solemn  fear 
and  love  of  God.' 

November  12th,  Sabbath,  he  attended  a  meeting  at  esquire 
Pettingill's,  Augusta  ;  of  which,  he  says :  « Had  a  precious 
time  to  my  soul.  Oh,  it  is  blessed  walking  near  to  God.  Oh, 
3* 


30  M  KM  OIK     OF  [1786-7. 

that  I  could  be  thankful.  How  many  precious  seasons  have 
I  enjoyed  the  week  past.  In  them  all  I  think  I  have  seen 
more  or  less  of  my  own  vileness,  nothingness,  and  unlikeness 
to  God ;  —  and  these  are  blessed  discoveries,  without  which 
the  Christian  cannot  prize  the  fulness  and  sufficiency  of 
Christ. 

'  26.  Felt  stupid  and  miserable  in  my  mind.  Seemed  to 
have  little  or  no  relish  for  spiritual  things.  "  Sin  and  misery 
ought  to  go  together"  Blessed  be  God  even  for  the  hidings 
of  his  face.  Oh,  that  I  might  remember,  and  bear  the  rebuke 
and  indignation  of  the  Lord,  —  for  I  have  sinned.  Correction 
is  a  blessed  mark  of  God's  faithfulness.  May  God,  in  mercy, 
always  make  good  his  oath :  "  1  will  visit  their  transgressions 
with  a  rod"  May  I  always  hear  the  rod,  and  him  who  hath 
appointed  it. 

*  28.  Felt  some  outgoing  of  soul  after  God,  in  the  evening, 
in  secret.  Felt  a  sweet  serenity  of  soul  in  giving  all  my  con- 
cerns, temporal  and  spiritual,  into  God's  hands.  Oh,  my  God, 
my  springs  are  all  in  thee. 

'  December  1 .  Had  a  comfortable  season,  morning  and 
evening.  This  life  is  but  a  struggle  between  life  and  death. 
But  the  time  is  coining  when  life  shall  prevail,  and  every  soul, 
who  is  savingly  united  to  Christ,  shall  burst  forth  from  the 
agonies  of  death  into  a  glorious  immortality.' 

Sabbath,  December  3d,  he  seemed  to  be  much  impressed 
by  reading  a  book  by  Mr.  James  Janeway.  He  quotes  a  few 
sentences  into  his  diary,  and  remarks  upon  God's  sending 
prophets,  apostles,  ministers,  and  teachers  to  instruct  men,  — 
and  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  pains  taken,  they  turn  away. 
He  then  adds :  '  Could  preachers  declaim  the  rocks  into  wax, 
or  hold  the  attention  of  the  hills  by  their  oratory ;  could  their 
rhetoric  shake  the  mountains  to  molehills,  or  rive  the  earth  to 
its  centre,  the  hardened  heart  of  man  would  remain  proof 
against  the  expostulation,  unless  he,  whose  prerogative  it  is  to 
turn  streams  into  blood,  cut  seas  in  sunder,  shake  the  moun- 


JOT  II  AM     SEW  ALL.  31 

tains,  tarn  the  flint  to  floods,  drop  the  stars  from  their  spheres, 
and  stop  the  sun  in  his  course,  put  forth  his  omnipotent  arm, 
and  bow  their  perverse  wills.  Such  is  the  desperate  condition 
into  which  men  have  fallen  by  sin,  that  God  must  bleed  to 
purchase  life  for  them,  —  the  Holy  One  imputatively  become 
a  sinner  to  make  them  holy ;  —  and  yet  they  will  be  misera- 
ble forever,  unless  the  same  Almighty  hand  make  particular 
personal  application  of  this  infinite  expense  to  their  souls  by 
immediate  power.' 

'  In  February,  1787,  he  commenced  living  by  himself  in  the 
camp  or  "  cottage,"  he  had  built.*  There  he  appears  to  have 
enjoyed  much  communion  with  God.  The  religious  services 
at  his  meals  were  often  seasons  of  sweet  outgoings  of  heart 
toward  God.  He  evidently  possessed  more  real  enjoyment 
at  his  lonely  board,  spread  with  coarse  fare,  than  the  mightiest 
earthly  monarch  with  every  delicacy  before  him  and  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  splendor  which  wealth  can  purchase  or 
power  command,  in  whose  heart  the  love  of  God  is  not  the 
ruling  passion.  Frequently,  in  that  rough  and  solitary  resi- 
dence, were  the  interests  of  particular  souls,  of  Zion,  and  of 
a  perishing  world,  spread  out  before  God  in  earnest,  and, 
(doubtless,)  effectual  supplication.  Who  can  doubt  that  angels 
delighted  to  hover  over  that  humble  cottage,  and  witness  the 
devotions  of  its  occupant,  —  ready  to  afford  any  ministrations 
of  support  or  comfort  which  the  Highest  might  direct  ?  Je- 
hovah himself,  we  hesitate  not  to  say,  often  bent  to  hear ;  and 
many  blessings,  for  many  souls,  were  Avon  there  by  the  strug- 
gles of  faith.  The  pertinence  and  force  of  thoughts  like 
these  can  only  be  felt  by  a  perusal  of  the  record  he  has  left, 
A  few  extracts  only  can  be  made. 

'  February  19.     Enjoyed  some  sweetness  of  soul  in  the 
morning  in  giving  myself  up  wholly  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  in 

*  Previously,  while  at  Chestervillc,  he  had  hoarded.  From  this 
till  after  his  marriage,  when  there,  he  lived  in  his  ramp. 


ii2         -  JOTHAM    BE  WALL.  [1787 

desiring  to  do  something  in  God's  vineyard,  if  it  is  only 
dropping  a  word  that  may  be  beneficial  to  some  soul.  Had 
a  good  time  in  the  evening  in  giving  myself  up  to  God, 
and  desiring  his  presence  with  me  on  my  way  to  visit  a  neigh- 
bor. Had  a  remarkable  time  in  pleading  with  God  for  souls 
in  the  evening,  in  private.  Had  James  Sewall,  with  great 
weight,  upon  my  soul.  Oh,  how  unworthy  am  I  to  plead  for 
souls.  All  God's  mercies  are  free,  rich,  sovereign  grace ! 
Oh,  to  be  kept  humble  under  a  sense  of  God's  love.' 

25th,  Sabbath.  After  going  to  Sandy  River  [Farmington], 
and  hearing  preaching,  in  which  he  was  much  interested,  he 
remarks  :  '  I  had  great  solemnity  in  reading  God's  Word  in 
the  evening  and  in  calling  upon  his  name.  But  oh,  how  short 
and  fleeting  are  my  views  of  eternal  things !  How  soon  I 
lose  the  precious  sense  of  God's  presence  !  Oh,  to  launch 
out  into  the  eternal  world  after  God,  in  my  views,  and  to  lose 
eight  of  this  vain  world  and  the  empty  bubbles  of  time  !  Oh, 
my  God,  make  me  holy  like  thyself.  When  shall  my  em- 
ployment be  like  that  of  the  angelic  hosts,  to  praise  thee 
eternally  without  sin  ? ' 

The  evening  of  the  next  day,  he  received  a  visit  from  some 
of  his  neighbors,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it  —  felt  social,  and 
played  on  his  viol, —  [a  bass  viol,  with  which,  in  after  years, 
he  used  to  gratify  his  love  of  music],  — '  But  found  afterwards,' 
he  says,  '  that  I  had  been  too  light.  I  much  lamented  that 
the  conversation  was  not  seasoned  with  more  spiritual  dis- 
course. I  often  confess  that  the  world  cannot  satisfy  my  soul, 
and  as  often  play  the  fool,  and  seek  it  yet  again.' 

His  diary  mentions  occasional  seasons  of  private  fasting 
and  prayer.  Two  days,  during  this  year,  were  thus  observed, 
January  14,  and  March  11.  The  record  of  both  is  interest- 
ing ;  but,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  the  former  is  omitted.  Of 
the  latter  he  says  :  '  I  think  God  was  with  me  of  a  truth.  In 
the  morning  besought  God  that  some  idol  might  be  crucified 
this  day,  some  precious  Agag  hewed  in  pieces  before  the 


Feb.]  jo  TIT  AM   si:  WALL.  33 

Lord,  some  darling  lust  put  to  death  in  my  soul.  Enjoyed 
great  enlargement  of  soul  for  God's  church,  that  his  sleeping 
children  might  be  awakened,  and  stand  on  the  watch-tower. 
Entreated  God  earnestly  for  Hallowell,  [Augusta :  Only  two 
days  previous,  he  was  pleading  in  an  agony  for  this  place]. 
Poured  out  my  soul  for  J.  S.,  [afterwards  his  wife].  Felt 
powerful  pleadings  for  Dummer  Sewall  and  wife.  Gave  up 
myself  and  all  that  I  have,  or  ever  shall  possess  or  enjoy, 
repeatedly  to  God,  with  great  heart-melting.  Prayed  earnest- 
ly to  be  kept  in  the  way  of  God's  commandments  while  I  live, 
and  to  die  triumphing  over  death  through  the  precious  merits 
of  Christ.  Desired,  as  I  was  enabled  to  go  forth  the  first 
part  of  this  year  with  fasting  and  prayer,  I  might  return  in 
the  latter  part  with  thanksgiving  and  praise.  Fervently 
besought  God,  if  he  saw  fit  that  I  should  enter  into  the  mar- 
riage state,  that  he  would  go  with  me,  or  otherwise  let  me 
remain  as  I  am  till  I  lay  down  my  head  in  the  dust.  In  the 
evening  called  on  W.  Bradbury.  While  I  was  there,  he  was 
PO  filled  with  God's  presence,  that  he  said  he  enjoyed  more 
in  one  moment  than  he  could  comparatively  in  a  thousand 
years  in  anything  else.  Enjoyed  enlargement  in  calling  on 
God  in  the  evening,  but  not  such  sensible  power  as  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  May  I  praise  God  forever  for  the  mercies 
of  this  day.  I  believe  it  is  good  for  God's  people  to  keep 
such  crucifixion-days,  wherein  the  enemies  of  God  and  their 
souls  may  be  put  to  the  sword.  I  would  not  part  with  the 
enjoyment  of  this  day  for  a  kingdom.  Desire  to  take  notice 
that  God  has  answered  a  petition  which  I  have  put  up  to  him 
of  late,  that  he  would  '  quicken  the  few  names  in  this  place,' 
which  I  have  seen  partially  fulfilled  this  evening.  Oh !  to  be 
thankful  and  humble  !  Lord,  I  never  shall  comprehend  thine 
infinite  condescension  to  me  to  all  eternity  ! ' 

Four  days  after  this,  he  writes  :  '  Enjoyed  a  powerful  in- 
terceding time  for  D.  Sewall  and  wife.  Oh !  may  God 
accomplish  this  great  work  in  them.  Was  much  afflicted 


34  MEMOIR    OF  [1787. 

part  of  the  day  \vith  a  view  of  my  past  conduct ;  [referring, 
probably,  to  some  follies  of  youth  ;  ]  may  it  serve  for  humilia- 
tion. Had  a  solemn  view  at  noon,  in  craving  a  blessing,  that 
I  was  addressing  the  Great  God.  In  the  evening  had  Sam- 
uel S.,  who  of  late  complains  much  of  dulness,  on  my  mind, 
with  great  enlargement  that  he  might  be  quickened.* 

March  22,  he  rose  early  to  go  to  Fannington  before  it 
thawed.  But,  having  received  a  letter  the  day  previous, 
informing  him  of  great  stupidity  in  religion  in  York,  he  says : 
'  Poured  out  my  soul  to  Gocl  before  I  went,  with  great  free- 
dom, entreating  him,  with  great  earnestness  and  much  affec- 
tion, to  turn  again  and  pour  out  the  latter  rain  of  his  Spirit  on 
that  place.'  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  this  prayer  was 
answered  in  at  least  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  some 
souls  there.  How  many,  alas  !  when  business  presses,  instead 
of  rising  early  to  commune  with  God,  and  plead  for  Zion  and 
for  souls,  neglect  entirely,  or  greatly  curtail,  the  duty  of  pri- 
vate devotion  !  It  may  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  toils 
and  hardships  of  these  first  settlers,  to  be  informed,  that  this 
going  to  Fannington  was  for  potatoes,  and  was  probably  with 
a  hand-sled  on  the  crust ;  and  that  for  the  grinding  of  corn 
and  grain,  they  had  to  go  to  Winthrop,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles,  and  of  course  without  much  road. 

Of  the  strength  of  his  religious  emotions,  we  may  form 
some  idea  by  the  following  entry  a  few  days  after  the  above  : 
*  Were  I  lord  of  this  terrestrial  globe,  and  could  I  command 
the  riches  of  the  Indies ;  could  I  even  call  the  stars  my  own, 
and  marshal  the  hosts  of  heaven,  all  this  splendor  would 
but  mock  the  wants  of  my  soul,  if  the  light  of  God's  counte- 
nance is  absent.  Formal  in  morning  duty ;  but,  asking  a 
blessing  at  breakfast,  felt  the  sensible  presence  of  God.  Had 
a  desire  to  trample  everything  under  foot,  with  a  holy  con- 
tempt, that  impeded  my  progress  to  the  heavenly  Jerusalem  ; 
desired  that  my  heart  might  be  stirred  in  me  with  a  zeal  for 


April.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  35 

God  and  his  cause,  from  •whom  I  receive  innumerable  and 
unmerited  mercies,  both  spiritual  and  temporal.' 

April  7,  he  Avrites :  '  Some  little  spiritual  refreshment  hi 
morning  prayer,  and  more  in  returning  thanks  at  breakfast. 
Had  a  longing  desire  that  the  great  and  momentous  concerns 
of  another  world  might  be  the  beginning,  and  end,  and  sub- 
stance, of  all  my  desires  and  actions ;  for  I  find  by  abundant 
experience,  that,  "  to  be  carnally-minded  is  death."  One 
endearing  look  from  my  Redeemer  makes  me  go  on  my  way 
rejoicing.  But  when  he  withdraws,  't  is  night,  and  I  drag  ou 
heavily,  as  Pharaoh  when  his  chariot  wheels  were  taken  off. 
But  I  desire  to  be  thankful  that  nothing  will  satisfy  me,  when 
God  is  absent  from  my  soul ;  and  I  desire  to  praise  him  for 
any  humbling  methods  he  takes  with  me;  for  I  have  an 
awfully  proud  heart.  In  asking  a  blessing  at  dinner,  was 
greatly  enlarged  with  desire  that  the  great  fountain  of  God's 
love  may  be  set  open  to  purify  sinners.  But  was  remarkably 
dead  and  formal  at  sunsetting  and  in  the  evening.  "  Thou 
shuttest,  and  no  man  openeth." 

'  12.  Had  a  remarkable  out-going  of  soul  to  God  this 
morning  in  going  forward  in  the  family,  [probably  of  some 
neighbor].  Had  a  sense  of  the  unfathomed  love  of  God  to  a 
perishing  world,  and  the  need  sinners  stand  in  of  being  ^pade 
partakers  through  Christ.  Oh  !  the  infinite  height  and  depth 
of  the  love  of  God !  how  unsearchable  are  the  riches  of  his 
goodness  !  how  the  lovely,  awful  sense  of  this  bottomless  pro- 
found overwhelms  the  soul,  and  wafts  it  forth  on  the  ocean  of 
incomprehensibles,  out  of  the  sight  of  this  contemptible  molehill, 
and  all  its  flattering  vanities  !  I  am  ready  to  cry  out,  "  Lord, 
it  is  good  for  me  to  be  here." 

'  May  1.  Had  some  solemn  sense  this  morning  before 
God  of  his  absolute  sovereignty.  Returning  thanks  at  break- 
fast, had  an  overcoming  sense  of  the  infinite  condescension  of 
God,  that  he  should  ever  look  in  mercy  on  such  a  helpless, 
polluted  worm  of  the  dust  as  I,  who  deserve  utterly  to  be  cast 


36  MEM  OIK    OF  [1787. 

off,  and  trodden  under  foot  of  all  created  beings,  and  made 
the  offscouring  of  all  things.  Oh  !  what  indulgence  dwells  in 
the  heart  of  God ! ' 

The  reader  will  probably  be  gratified  to  hear  again  from 
the  Sabbath  meeting  before  spoken  of. 

'  13,  Sabbath.  Awoke  this  morning  under  a  sweet  sense 
of  the  goodness  of  God.  Enjoyed  enlargement  of  soul,  both 
in  secret  and  social  prayer,  entreating  God  for  his  presence 
with  us  to-day  in  our  meeting :  and  I  think  I  may  say  of  a 
truth  that  God  was  pleased  to  answer  my  request.  In  the 
morning,  S.  Sewall  led  in  prayer,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  sweet 
nearness  to  God,  and  particularly  to  have  had  a  soul-melting 
sense  of  the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ.  He  stopped  several 
tunes,  not  being  able  to  utter  himself.  I  felt  tender  all  the 
fore  part  of  the  day,  and  was  enabled  to  plead  with  God  with 
great  earnestness  and  much  affection,  at  the  close  of  the  fore- 
noon service,  that  he  would  grant  repentance  to  those  among 
us  who  are  yet  out  of  Christ.  In  the  afternoon,  Thomas 
Davenport  offered  a  solid,  solemn,  sensible  prayer.  Felt 
union  of  soul  in  joining  with  him.  In  reading,  from  "  Alleine's 
Alarm  to  the  Unconverted,"  a  description  of  the  miseries  of 
the  finally  impenitent,  my  soul  was  filled  with  such  an  over- 
comBg  realizing  sense  of  their  wretched  condition,  that  I 
could  scarcely  keep  from  bursting  forth  in  groans  and  tears 
as  I  read.  After  reading,  I  felt  a  pressure  on  my  mind  to 
say  something,  which  I  endeavored  to  do  ;  but  had  such  an 
overwhelming  sense  of  things,  that  I  did  it  in  a  broken  man- 
ner. Most  appeared  affected.  May  the  Lord  make  such  use 
of  it  as  he  pleases.  Our  little  assembly  consists  of  about  a 
dozen,  beside  some  children.  The  greater  part,  I  have  reason 
to  think,  are  truly  pious. 

'After  meeting,  felt  in  a  sweet,  humble,  solemn,  tender 
frame.  Saw  the  need  of  watchfulness,  lest  being  lifted  up 
with  pride,  I  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil.  Had  a 
view,  that,  formerly,  I  have,  in  this  very  spot,  after  peculiar 


(Sept.]  JOTUAM    SEWALL.  37 

manifestations,  for  want  of  watchfulness,  fallen  into  a  light 
frame  of  mind,  and,  insensibly,  pride  has  sprung  up,  and 
turned  the  goodness  of  God  into  self-applause,  —  to  my  great 
grief  and  the  wounding  of  my  soul.  I  desire  to  lie  down  in 
the  dust,  under  the  footstool,  and  bless  God,  that  he  has  at 
this  time,  in  any  measure,  kept  me  from  this  awful  sacrilege, 
and  idol  self-worship.  Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me,  O  Lord, 
but  unto  thy  great  name  be  the  glory.' 

What  happy  consequences  would  result,  were  all  Christians 
as  careful  to  prepare  their  hearts  and  minds  for  a  spiritual 
and  holy  observance  of  the  Sabbath  as  did  the  subject  of  this 
memoir.  How  delightful  and  profitable  would  be  the  privi- 
leges it  brings.  With  what  interest  its  duties  would  be  per- 
formed ;  and  what  enjoyment  and  usefulness  would  be  diffused 
through  the  lives  of  the  members  of  the  household  of  faith  ; 
—  that  will  be  a  blessed  day  to  the  church  and  the  world 
when  tliis  takes  place. 

Passing  over  a  number  of  months,  during  which  his  diary 
testifies  the  existence  of  the  same  deep  piety  and  constant 
devotedness  to  God,  —  we  come  to  an  important  event  in  his 
history.  For  years  he  had  been  taking  steps  preparatory  to 
entering  the  marriage  state.  On  the  evening  of  the  17th 
of  September,  1787,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jenny  Sewall, 
daughter  of  Henry  Sewall  of  Bath.  Their  fathers  were  first 
cousins.  His  mother,  and  her  father  were  also  half-brother 
and  sister.  This  made  their  relationship  somewhat  near. 
This  circumstance,  and  that  of  her  not  being  pious,  he  did 
not  so  deeply  reflect  upon  till  after  he  had  made  such  advances 
as  not  to  regard  himself  at  liberty  to  recede.  He  then  became 
considerably  tried,  —  and  carried  the  matter  with  much  earn- 
est prayer  to  God.  The  result  was,  that,  as  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity, and  as  a  Christian,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  proceed, 
committing  himself  and  his  betrothed  to  the  mercy  and  grace 
of  God.  She  was  religiously  educated,  and  might  be  said  to 
be  '  all  but  a  Christian.'  Often  did  he  pray  with  her  previous 

A 


38  MEMOIR    OF  [1787. 

to  their  marriage,  and  press  the  subject  of  religion  upon  her, 
while  she  would  be  bathed  in  tears  ;  and  often  and  earnestly 
did  he  entreat  God,  ( even  to  an  agony  of  soul'  which  could 
'take  no  denial,'  for  her  conversion.  He  believed  that, 
*  sooner  or  later,'  he  should  '  receive  the  answer'  in  her  behalf, 
—  but  was  '  content  to  leave  it  all  with  God.'  -  It  was,  of 
course,  in  good  hands.  And  he  wrestled  and  believed,  not 
in  vain.  The  work  of  grace  in  her  heart  seemed  to  be 
gradual.  But,  in  the  event,  he  could  not  doubt  its  reality. 

At  no  period  of  life,  ordinarily,  are  the  attractions  of  the 
world  so  strong  —  at  no  period  is  it  so  likely  to  absorb  the 
thoughts  and  engross  the  affections,  as  when  entering  the 
married  life.  The  picture  which  the  ardor  of  youthful  fancy 
is  wont  to  paint  is  so  bright  and  lovely,  as  almost  absolutely 
to  fascinate  the  eye.  That  heart  must  be  strongly  bound 
to  heaven,  which  the  attractions  of  an  earthly  love  cannot 
draw  at  all  from  its  one  great  centre.  Too  many  Chris- 
tians, it  is  feared,  at  this  point  in  their  history,  experience 
some  diminution  in  the  simplicity  and  fervor  of  their  piety. 
But  nothing  of  this  appears  in  him.  In  perusing  his  diary 
up  to  the  very  time  where  the  eye  falls  on  the  remai-k,  '  being 
the  time  set  for  my  marriage,'  no  suspicion  would  exist  that 
he  is  drawing  near  to  such  an  event.  The  same  steady  and 
earnest  aim  to  please  God,  and  do  nothing  else  appears  ;  and 
no  diminution  of  religious  interest  or  Christian  devotedness 
can  be  discovered.  His  diary  for  the  day  preceding  and  the 
day  of  his  marriage,  is  thought  to  be  rather  remarkable  for 
such  an  occasion,  and  is  here  transcribed.  Nor  let  any  infer 
from  some  expressions,  that  there  was  a  tendency  in  his  dis- 
T  position  to  misanthropy.  The  strength  of  his  conjugal  at- 
tachment, as  manifested  through  his  whole  subsequent  life, 
shows  that  such  an  inference  would  be  false. 

1  September  1 6,  Sabbath.  The  Lord  was  gracious  again 
this  morning,  and  granted  his  blessed  presence  to  my  soul  in 
secret  prayer.  The  world  appeared  remarkably  fading  and 


Sept.]  J  O  T  II  A  M    S  E  W  A  L  L  .  39 

passing,  so  tliat  I  felt  no  more  attachment  to  my  earthly  good 
than  I  did  to  the  inanimate  stones,  (which  was  the  compari- 
son then  in  my  mind).  Oh,  that  I  may  be  more  and  more 
crucified  to  the  world,  mortified  to  every  lust,  dead  to  every 
idol.  Heard  Mr.  Emerson  from  Rom.  11 :  17,  18;  but  felt 
rather  lifeless  in  religion  in  time  of  public  worship.  Had  a 
good  season  to  my  soul  in  secret  prayer  in  the  evening. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord  for  all  his  unmerited  favors. 

'  17.  Desire  to  praise  the  Lord  for  his  tender  mercies  to 
my  soul,  who  again  afforded  me  much  of  his  gracious  pres- 
ence in  secret.  Earnestly  besought  God  for  his  presence  with 
us  this  evening,  being  the  time  set  for  my  marriage.  Let 
me  but  have  thy  presence,  oh  my  God,  and  I  can  freely  re- 
nounce everything  else.  Retired  at  noon,  and  enjoyed  a  re- 
markable season  of  the  power  of  God  on  my  soul.  Exercised 
great  faith,  that  God  would  grant  me  his  blessed  presence  to 
conduct  me  through  all  the  trials,  changes,  and  temptations 
that  shall  attend  my  short  life;  and  I  earnestly  desired  to  die 
there  before  God,  rather  than  live  and  dishonor  him  by  sin- 
ning against  him,  —  for  my  soul  felt  free  from  every  earthly 
tie,  and  all  my  wishes  centred  in  God,  and  I  could  not  de- 
sire to  live  another  moment  for  any  enjoyment  I  could  think 
of  below.  Retained  much  of  this  blessed  frame  through  the 
rest  of  the  day.  Felt,  in  some  measure,  tender,  solemn,  and 
watchful.  In  the  evening,  the  wedding  was  solemnized.  Felt 
grieved  at  a  number  of  young  people's  getting  together  and 
dancing ;  and  was  more  cut  to  the  heart  by  the  silence  of 
others  who  should  have  reproved  them.  Was  not  the  sin  of 
Eli's  children  charged  upon  him,  because  he  restrained  them 
not  ?  Surely  no  person  has  a  right  to  do  anything  without  a 
supreme  reference  to  the  glory  of  God.  Let  this  'truth  stand, 
if  it  cuts  across  me  ever  so  much.  Retired  while  the  dancing 
was  going  on,  and  poured  out  my  soul  to  God,  with  much 
affection,  and  in  particular  for  those  who  were  then  thus 
engaged.' 


40  MEMOIR    OP    JOTHAM    SETVALL.         [1787. 

The  above  unhappy  incident  illustrates  the  truth,  that  the 
more  of  spirituality  and  heavenly  mindedness  exists,  the 
stronger  will  be  the  aversion  to  vanity  and  levity.  What 
others  may,  perhaps,  regard  as  innocent,  such  a  person  views 
a  departure  from  the  objects  of  present  existence,  and  as  fos- 
tering erroneous  and  injurious  principles  and  feelings.  It  il- 
lustrates, too,  the  tendency  of  such  amusements  to  betray 
those  who  practise  them  into  a  gross  infraction  of  the  laws  of 
real  gentility  and  good  breeding,  by  wounding  the  feelings  of 
such  as  are  conscientiously  averse  to  them. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HIS  PRIVATE  CHRISTIAN  CHARACTER. CALL    TO  THE  MIN- 
ISTRY.—  LICENSE  TO  PREACH. —  ORDINATION. 

THE  next  year,  1788,  he  commenced  by  observing  the  first 
day  as  a  season  of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  This  was  at 
his  lone  home  in  the  forest,  to  which  he  had  come  some  two 
months  previous,  leaving  his  wife  for  a  season  at  her  father's. 
August  17th  was  also  observed  in  the  same  manner ;  and 
then  again,  November  16th.  The  last  two  of  these  were 
Sabbaths.  He  attended  the  exercises  of  public  worship,  and 
devoted  the  remainder  of  the  time,  more  than  on  other  days, 
to  the  duty  of  supplication.  These  seasons  were  character- 
ized by  the  same  humbling  sense  of  God's  special  presence, 
and  nearness  of  soul  to  him,  and  earnestness  of  entreaty  in 
behalf  of  the  objects  which  he  carried  to  the  mercy-seat,  as 
those  which  have  already  been  noticed.  The  details  need 
not  be  given. 

March  6th,  he  commenced  living  in  a  family  "state,  by  ar- 
riving at  night  with  his  wife  and  goods,  at  his  own  habitation. 
The  previous  day,  being  dn  the  road  with  a  team,  and  feeling 
miserable,  as  he  says,  in  view  of  his  own  follies,  he  longed  to 
be  alone.  lie  seized  a  few  moments  for  retirement  on  the 
road,  and  poured  out  his  soul  to  God  with  much  affection ; 
after  which  he  felt  sweet  inward  peace.  The  evening  be- 
fore, he  was  afflicted  by  hearing  some  improper,  probably 
vile,  conversation,  to  which  and  the  persons  concerned  he  is 
thought  to  have  reference  in  the  entry  of  the  next  morning 
and  day.  which  we  are  unwilling  to  omit. 

4* 


42  MEMOIR    O  V  [  1 788. 

'  Got  a  sweet  time  alone  this  morning.  Oh !  what  a  soul- 
consoling  thing  it  is  to  devote  all  heartily  to  God  !  Oh  !  ye 
who  drink  in  iniquity  like  water,  if  ye  knew  the  unspeakable 
happiness  of  one  hour's  communion  with  God,  how  quick 
would  you  drop  your  follies  ;  how  soon  would  ye  be  sick  of 
sin!' 

With  such  a  consecration  of  his  all  to  God,  he  entered  upon 
the  enjoyments  of  domestic  life.  But  he  was  far  from  being 
Absorbed  in  these ;  for,  in  the  family  devotions  of  the  very 
next  evening,  we  find  him  '  wrestling  hard  with  God  for  our 
land.' 

The  meetings  which  had  been  instituted  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  the  leading  of  which  principally  devolved  on  him,  were 
now  more  regularly  attended.  They  were,  generally,  the 
same  seasons  of  communion  with  God  and  spiritual  enjoyment 
as  those  which  have  been  noticed ;  and  in  the  course  of  their 
progress,  were  the  means  of  the  hopeful  conversion  of  a  num- 
ber of  persons.  And  those  who  found  social  worship  so  sweet 
and  profitable  were  not  contented  to  live  without  a  weekly 
evening  prayer  meeting.  Wednesday  evening  was  agreed 
upon,  and  the  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Davenport,  May  2 1st  And  thus  was  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  another  meeting,  which,  Avith  incidental  interruptions, 
continues  to  this  day.  The  writer  distinctly  remembers,  that 
in  his  childhood  the  scattered  inhabitants  used  frequently  to 
travel  from  one  to  two  miles,  over  bad  roads,  to  attend  it. 
Not  long  after  its  commencement,  the  subject  of  this  narrative, 
in  the  impartial  record  he  kept  of  his  errors  as  well  as  his 
duties  and  enjoyments,  made  the  following  entry  in  his  diary : 
'  Engaged  in  other  business  till  it  was  too  late  to  attend  meet- 
ing, which  troubled  me  much ;  but  fled  for  refuge  from  a 
guilty  conscience  to  the  sin-cleansing  blood  of  the  precious 
Saviour.'  Would  to  God  that  the  consciences  of  many  others 
were  as  tender  as  his  !  What  a  new  aspect  would  be  spread 
over  week-day  and  other  prayer  meetings  !  One  great  cause 


March.  |  .1  o  x  n  .\  M  s  K  w  \\.L.  43 

of  trial  and  discouragement  to  ministers,  and  to  the  few  who 
cleave  to  these  seasons  of  worship,  would  pass  away  ;  more 
united  prayer  would  ascend ;  the  influence  of  more  mutual 
exhortation  and  counsel  would  be  felt ;  the  ties  of  brotherly 
love  would  become  more  firm  and  strong  ;  and  greater  spirit- 
uality, activity,  and  usefulness  would  characterize  the  church 
as  a  body. 

His  life,  during  the  year  of  his  history  which  we  have  now 
entered,  was  characterized  by  the  same  constancy  of  effort  to 
live  near  to  God ;  the  same  sweet,  solemn,  soul-refreshing, 
and  frequent  sense  of  his  presence  and  help  ;  and  the  same 
earnest  pleading  for  himself  and  those  around  him,  for  Chris- 
tians and  sinners,  the  church,  the  land,  and  the  world ;  as  we 
have  already  noticed.  It  is  interesting  and  instructive  to  ob- 
serve how  his  eye  was  constantly  directed  to  the  throne  of  grace. 
When  going  to  a  singing  meeting,  he  prefaced  the  act  by  '  some 
sweet  pleading  for  God's  presence  to  go  with '  him.  If  about  to 
take  a  short  journey, '  his  soul  longed  to  have  God  go  with'  him, 
'  for,  oh !  I  cannot  live  without  him.'  All  his  temporal  inter- 
ests were  committed  to  God.  If,  through  the  backAvardness 
of  the  season,  his  corn  Avas  planted  late,  the  seed  committed 
to  the  earth  was  commended  to  him.  When  the  proper  time 
for  sowing  '  Avinter  grain '  had  passed  Avithout  being  improved, 
he  asked  for  such  a  turn  of  weather  as  would  give  him  the 
opportunity  ;  and  it  Avas  granted.  According  to  the  Saviour's 
declaration,  that  not  a  sparro\v  falls  on  the  ground  Avithout 
our  Heavenly  Father,  he  regarded  all  things  as  under  the 
care  and  guidance  of  Divine  providence.  Hence  trifling  oc- 
currences were  means  of  spiritual  improvement.  Things 
which  most  Avould  have  regarded  as  merely  casual,  were  seen 
by  him  to  come  from  the  hand  of  God.  If  they  were  favors, 
they  called  forth  the  delightful  exercise  of  gratitude  to  the 
Giver  of  all.  If  the  straying  of  his  cattle  in  the  Avood  occa- 
sioned him  trouble,  the  finding  of  them  became^a  theme  of 
tlianksgiving  to  God.  In  the  vexations  of  hauling  hay 


44  MEMOIR    OK  [1788. 

through  a  new  forest  road,  the  Divine  hand  was  noticed ;  and 
if  his  patience  was  enabled  to  endure,  the  Lord  was  praised 
for  that :  if  it  did  not  endure,  his  next  closet-devotions  found 
him  in  humble  penitence,  on  his  knees  before  God,  confessing 
and  lamenting  the  sin. 

The  hand  of  God  was  equally  acknowledged  in  spiritual 
enjoyment,  and  the  want  of  it ;  —  the  one  was  a  cause  of 
thanksgiving,  and  the  other  of  humiliation.  His  own  striv- 
ings to  live  near  to  God  possessed  no  merit.  His  best  duties 
and  performances  were  extremely  defective,  and  needed  for- 
giveness. And,  after  all,  it  was  boundless  condescension  and 
mercy  in  God  to  shine  on  such  a  polluted  worm  with  the 
light  of  his  countenance.  His  best  frames  were  far  from  rising 
to  the  purity  and  holiness  he  sought ;  and,  knowing  the  de- 
ceitfulness  and  treachery  of  his  heart,  he  begged  of  God  not 
to  suffer  him  '  to  make  a  righteousness  of  such  filthy  rags.' 
And  when  in  any  duty  he  was  cold  and  lifeless,  this  resulted 
from  the  hidings  of  God's  face,  which  as  a  sovereign  he  had 
a  right  to  do,  or  which  was  done  on  account  of  some  umvatch- 
.  fulness  or  sin  in  him.  Under  the  former  as  a  cause,  he  lay 
humbled  as  deserving  no  good ;  under  the  latter,  he  abased 
himself  in  penitence  and  confession.  Thus  every  event  called 
into  exercise  some  Christian  grace,  and  a  practical  illustration 
was  furnished  of  the  truth  of  the  apostolic  declaration  :  "  All 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them 
who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose." 

The  strength  of  his  views  of  the  Divine  sovereignty,  and 
the  effect  which  these  had  upon  him,  as  exhibited  in  different 
entries  of  his  diary,  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader. 

'  Sabbath,  March  23.  The  presence  of  God  was  sweet  in 
secret  and  family  prayer,  and  also  in  our  meeting.  Think  I 
may  say,  Of  a  truth,  God  was  with  us.  Longed,  and  even 
wrestled  with  God  for  the  salvation  of  perishing  souls,  and 
the  universal  spread  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Had  also 
«n  awful  sense  of  the  dreadful  sovereignty  of  the  LIVING 


March.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  45 

GOD  !  —  that  he  had  a  right  to  cast  off  or  save  whom  he 
pleased ;  and  who  dare  say  to  him,  "  What  doest  thou  ?  " 

Again, '  A  remarkable  time  this  morning  in  family  prayer. 
Had  an  overcoming  sense  of  God's  absolute  sovereignty,  a 
debasing  sense  of  my  own  utter  unworthiness  of  the  least 
favor  from  God's  hand,  and  a  realizing  sense  that  it  is  not  for 
anything  in  me  naturally,  more  than  in  the  reprobates  now 
in  hellj  that  I  am  not  suffering  with  them  the  vengeance  of 
eternal  fire.  Had  also  an  overcoming  Longing  desire  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners.' 

Again,  'My  soul  felt  a  sweet,  awful,  and  solemn  sense 
of  God's  absolute  sovereignty,  which  laid  me  in  the  dust  be- 
neath his  footstool.  Felt  my  utter  unworthiness.  Came  like 
a  poor,  guilty,  condemned  criminal,  and  laid  hold  on  offered 
pardon  through  Christ.' 

Whatever  difficulties  may  attend  the  doctrine  of  Divine 
sovereignty  when  viewed  as  a  matter  of  theory  or  speculation, 
these  extracts  show  whether,  when  applied  by  the  Spirit  to 
the  understanding  and  the  heart,  it  has  any  tendency  to  chill 
the  emotions  or  activities  of  piety. 

The  same,  and  his  views  of  the  sinfulness  of  the  human 
heart,  are  shown  by  the  following :  '  Had  an  affecting  sense 
of  the  awful  corruption  of  human  nature  in  prayer  this  morn- 
ing ;  [speaks,  on  another  occasion,  of  his  heart  appealing  to 
him  to  be  the  very  picture  of  hell !]  also  of  the  majesty  of 
God,  and  his  power  and  right  to  punish  sin  ;  also  of  the  con- 
descension and  love  of  God  through  Christ,  etc.  Earnestly 
longed  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  for  the  advancement  of 
Christ's  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  for  sanctification  to  be 
advanced  in  my  own  soul  and  the  souls  of  others.  Devoted 
all  afresh  to  God  in  the  evening.  Oh !  how  a  taste  of  spiritual 
and  eternal  things  takes  away  the  relish  for  earthly  things  ! ' 

This  brings  us  to  another  point,  which  is  elsewhere  thus 
developed :  '  Had  a  remarkable  season  this  morning,  both  in 
secret,  reading  God's  precious  word,  and  in  social  prayer.  My 


46  MEMOIR    OP  [1788. 

soul  vra&jfitkd  with  God'?  sensible  presence.  Oh  !  the  unut- 
terable sweetness  of  enjoying  the  blessed  presence  of  God ! 
And  if  to  enjoy  a  few  drops  of  the  love  of  God  for  a  few  mo- 
ments here  is  so  unspeakably  sweet,  what,  O  my  soul,  will 
it  be  to  be  filled  with  God  through  boundless  Eternity  !  ' 

Should  any  suppose  that  such  confessions  of  the  entire  sin- 
fulness  of  the  heart  as  are  recorded  above  are  inconsistent 
with  Christian  integrity,  let  the  following  be  noticed.  It  is 
separated  from  one  of  those  only  by  a  single  page.  '  In  pri- 
vate in  the  evening,  [he  had  been  rather  cold  and  wandering  a 
few  hours  before,]  had  a  solemn  season  in  appealing  to  God, 
that  his  law  had  been  written  on  my  heart,  and  that  he  had 
hi  some  measure  disposed  my  heart  to  love  him.' 

It  is  no  wonder  that  one  who  experiences  so  much  of  the 
presence  and  love  of  God,  should  mourn  under  his  absence. 
It  is  not  strange  that  we  should  hear  such  lamentations  as  the 
following  :  '  Oh  !  how  tedious  is  it  to  serve  alone  !  how  life- 
less every  duty  without  God ! '  "When,  on  the  forenoon  of  the 
Sabbath,  (the  worship  of  which  was  generally  so  sweet  and 
refreshing  to  him,)  he  found  his  heart  cold  and  his  mind  wan- 
dering, it  is  not  strange  that  he  should  '  retire  at  noon,  and 
weep  before  God,  and  feel  impatient  at  such  distance  from 
him.' 

And  yet  it  is  pleasant  to  know  that  such  seasons  with  him 
were  comparatively  few  and  short,  —  that  they  constituted 
exceptions  to  the  general  rule  and  tenor  of  his  life.  It  is 
pleasant,  when  he  had  occasion  to  mourn  that '  three  days  had 
passed  with  little  or  nothing  of  sensible  communion  with  God 
in  prayer,'  that  he  could  add, '  which  is  the  longest  season  of 
barrenness  I  can  recollect  for  a  year  past,'  And  it  is  gratify- 
ing to  find  that,  on  the  very  next  morning,  refreshing  streams 
of  God's  love  were  poured  into  his  soul.  The  Divine  promise 
does  not  fail :  "  Those  that  honor  me,  I  will  honor." 

Two  more  extracts,  which  show  the  reality  of  his  consecra- 
tion to  God,  I  am  unwilling  to  omit. 


May.]  j  o  I  H  A  M   s  K  w  A  L  L.  47 

Suffering  under  the  pain  of  a  wound  in  the  leg  by  a  scythe 
which  ha,d  been  irritated  by  a  cold,  after  enjoying  great  free- 
dom at  the  footstool  in  pouring  out  his  soul  to  God,  he  says : 
'  If  it  is  God's  will  to  take  me  out  of  the  world  by  this  means, 
I  think  I  have  no  desire  to  stay.  I  have  long  ago  renounced 
this 'world.  I  have  nothing  to  expect  from  it  which  is  worth 
living  for.  My  hope  and  my  trust  are  in  God  through  Christ. 
The  most  for  which  I  can  desire  to  tarry  here,  is  to  see  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom,  which  I  hope  is  at  hand. 

Not  long  after  this,  on  a  Sabbath,  the  worship  of  which  he 
had  highly  enjoyed,  in  an  apostrophe  to  the  world,  he  says  : 
'  Depart  from  me,  ye  fading  vanities  of  time !  I  have  long 
since  renounced  you.  I  am  devoted  to  His  service  who 
made  me.' 

He  had  not  yet  made  a  public  profession  pf  religion.  The 
nearest  Congregational  church  was  in  Augusta,  (then,  and  till 
February,  1797,  a  part  of  Hallo  well).  Some  reasons  which 
to  his  own  mind  were  satisfactory,  prevented  him  from  offer- 
ing himself  to  this.  A  few  of  his  neighbors,  and  some  pious 
persons  in  what  was  then  Hallowell,  possessed  the  same  feel- 
ing. May  20,  1789,  he  and  his  pious  neighbors  agreed  on  a 
joint  expression  of  desire  to  the  persons  in  Hallowell,  to  unite 
with  them  in  forming  a  church.  On  the  17th  of  June  follow- 
ing, they  were  informed  that  their  proposal  was  accepted. 
The  subject  of  this  memoir,  after  '  wrestling  with  God  in 
secret  that  his  presence  might  go  with  them,'  went^  immedi- 
ately to  Hallowell,  accompanied  by  three  of  his  neighbors, 
(probably  Thomas  Davenport  and  his  brothers-in-law,  Samuel 
Sewall  and  Abr.  Davenport.)  June  20th,  the  persons  con- 
cerned met  at  Esq.  Pettingill's,  and  observed  the  day  as  a 
season  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer  for  God's  guidance  and 
blessing.  With  '  great  tenderness  and  mutual  satisfaction,' 
they  gave  a  reason  for  their  hope  by  relating  what  they  had 
experienced  of  the  awakening  and  converting  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  They  agreed  to  request  a  council  from  the 


48  MEMOIR    OF  [1789. 

neighboring  churches,  to  embody  them  into  a  church.  The 
next  day,  they  agreed  upon  Articles  of  Faith.  Letters  were 
sent  to  the  churches  in  Georgetown  and  Harpswell,  request- 
ing a  council  to  convene  on  the  third  Saturday  of  the  next 
month,  July  18th.  These  churches,  regarding  the  case  as 
somewhat  '  complicated,'  and  fearing  that  evil  rather  lhan 
good  would  result  from  the  proposed  measure,  declined  the 
request.  On  hearing  of  this,  the  subject  of  these  remarks, 
who  was  manifestly  the  prime  mover  of  the  thing,  says : 
'  Felt  some  grieved  at  first ;  but  on  farther  consideration, 
found  some  comfortable  degree  of  resignation.  The  Lord 
knows  best  what  is  most  for  his  glory.'  On  the  day  the  coun- 
cil had  been  expected,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Esq.  Pettin- 
gill's  to  consult  on  the  expediency  of  renewing  their  effort. 
'  After  jointly  looking  up  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  for 
direction,'  (says  the  diary,)  '  and  after  the  most  impartial  ex- 
amination we  were  able  to  make,  no  sufficient  reason  appear- 
ing to  us  why  we  should  be  debarred  church  privileges,  we 
concluded  to  renew  our  request  to  the  churches  in  Harpswell 
and  Georgetown,  and  also  to  send  to  the  church  in  Bristol ; 
and  let  tUe  Lord  do  what  seemeth  him  meet.'  Letters  were 
probably  accordingly  sent.  In  August,  an  intimation  was 
received,  expressive  of  doubt  whether  the  council  would  con- 
vene. September  19th,  another  meeting  was  held  at  Esq. 
Pettingill's.  A  letter  from  Mr.  Eaton,  Pastor  of  the  Harps- 
well  church,  <  giving  reasons  for  not  granting '  their  '  former 
request,'  was  considered.  The  result  of  deliberation  and 
prayer  was,  to  answer  this  letter  and  renew  their  request. 
October  29th  appears  to  have  been  the  day  designated  for  the 
meeting  of  the  council.  The  request  was  now  assented  to  by 
the  churches ;  and  the  subject  of  this  narrative  observed  the 
25th  as  a  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer  in  relation  to  the 
subject.  On  the  arrival  of  the  day,  the  Pastor  and  a  Delegate 
from  Georgetown,  and  a  Delegate  from  Harpswell,  came. 
As  the  council  was  not  full,  and  only  a  part  of  the  candidates 


Jan.]  JOTHAM  SEWALL  49 

were  present,  the  council  adjourned  to  the  last  Thursday  in 
February. 

At  the  time  appointed,  Feb.  25,  1790,  the  council  convened. 
At  first,  the  question  was  debated,  whether  two  churches  could 
form  a  council.  This  being  decided  in  the  affirmative,  the 
council  organized ;  and  discussed  at  considerable  length  the 
merits  of  the  case  before  them.  On  coming  to  a  result,  the 
council  was  equally  divided  on  the  question  of  embodying  the 
persons  concerned  into  a  church  of  Hallowell.  The  Pastor 
and  Delegate  from  the  church  in  Georgetown  voting  for  it, 
and  the  Pastor  and  Delegate  from  Harpswell  voting  against 
it.  The  council,  however,  was  unanimous  in  a  willingness  to 
form  them  into  '  a  church  of  Chester ; '  and,  the  parties  con* 
genting,  this  was  done.*  The  subject  of  this  narrative,  after 
speaking  of  the  solemn  peace  of  mind  which  he  enjoyed  in 
the  act  of  thus  giving  himself  up  in  covenant  to  God,  adds : 
*  Who  ever  heard  such  a  thing,  as  for  the  potter  to  enter  into 
covenant  with  the  clay  ! ' 

A  few  months  after  this,  we  find  that  his  mind  had  been 
exercised  on  the  propriety  and  expediency  of  adopting  a  se- 
ries of  written  resolutions  for  the  regulation  of  his  conduct. 
He  knew  that  it  was  better  not  to  vow,  than  to  vow  and  not  per- 
form. But  this  reason  went  equally  against  binding  the  soul 
with  any  obligations  to  God  and  duty,  and  must  therefore  be  dis- 
carded. He  knew  that  the  adoption  of  such  resolutions  would 
not  secure  a  good  life ;  —  but  he  felt  the  need  of  something  to 
quicken  his  memory.  He  therefore,  sensible  of  the  deceitful- 
ness  and  treachery  of  his  own  heart,  —  relying  on  .Divine 
grace,  and  resolving  in  the  strength  of  him  who  has  said,  "  As 
thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be,"  —  on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1791,  adopted  the  following: — • 

*  1.  I  do  solemnly  and  heartily  devote  myself,  time,  and 

*  This  account  is  thus  fully  given,  as  perhaps  no  other  circum- 
stancial  statement  exists. 

5 


50  MEMOIROF  [1791. 

talents,  and  all  that  I  possess,  to  God  ;  to  be  improved  in  his 
service  as  he  shall  see  fit. 

'  2.  I  resolve  to  behave  more  cautiously  before  my  family ; 
to  endeavor  to  avoid  all  peevishness,  to  which  I  find  I  am  lia- 
ble on  trivial  occasions ;  to  endeavor  oftener,  and  with  more 
engagedness  to  converse  with  my  wife,  on  the  things  which 
concern  her  everlasting  peace ;  to  be  faithful  in  the  education 
of  my  son,  and  endeavor,  as  soon  as  he  is  capable  of  under- 
standing, (if  God  should  spare  him  in  life),  to  be  very  as- 
siduous in  instructing  him  in  Jhe  first  principles  of  religion ; 
often  and  earnestly  to  pray  for  the  blessing  of  God  to  attend 
my  instructions,  if,  peradventure,  they  may  be  sanctified  to  the 
good  of  his  soul. 

'  3.  I  resolve  to  be  careful  in  avoiding  all  unnecessary  con- 
versation and  foolish  jesting  with  my  neighbors,  (a  sin  to 
which  I  am  too  liable  ;)  and  to  embrace  all  convenient  oppor- 
tunities to  converse  seriously  with  them  respecting  their  souls' 
affairs,  and  press  on  them  the  necessity  of  speedy  repentance. 

'  4.  I  resolve  to  be  faithful  in  reproving,  and  especially  the 
children  of  God,  and  those  in  particular  to  whom  I  stand  in  a 
church  relation,  —  that  I  may  fulfil  my  most  solemn  covenant 
engagements  to  watch  over  fellow-members.  I  also  engage 
to  do  it  with  tenderness,  and  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  ;  and 
to  receive  admonition  from  my  brethren,  with  the  same 
temper. 

'  5.  I  resolve  to  bear  in  mind,  when  before  the  world,  that 
I  belong  to  the  fold  of  Christ ;  and  to  conduct  before  them 
agreeably  to  their  just  expectation  of  one  who  has  made  a 
public  profession  of  religion. 

'  6.  I  resolve  to  be  more  resolute  in  attending  my  stated 
seasons  of  private  devotion,  and  not  to  let  trifles  turn  me  aside 
from,  or  cause  me  to  be  cold  and  short  in  my  addresses  to 
God. 

'  And,  lastly,  I  resolve  to  read  over  these  resolutions  once 
a  month  through  the  ensuing  year,  and  earnestly  pray  to  God 


Jan.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  51 

for  strength  to  perform  them.'  He  adds  :  '  And  now  I  be- 
seech thee,  O  God  of  my  salvation,  to  keep  these  things  in 
my  mind ;  and,  oh,  let  me  never  dishonor  thee  by  neglecting 
to  fulfil  these  resolutions,  for  Christ's  sake :  Amen.' 

The  character  of  his  piety  is  here  shown  in  a  particular 
which  deserves  our  notice.  It  affected,  first,  his  relations  to 
God ;  and  then,  those  in  which  he  stood  to  his  family,  his 
neighbors,  and  those  who  were  more  distant,  —  in  proportion 
to  their  contiguity  or  the  directness  with  which  his  influence 
could  be  exerted  upon  them.  Such  are  the  nature  and  ef- 
fects of  true,  healthful  piety.  Here,  also,  a  fact  is  seen,  which 
appeared  through  his  whole  religious  life,  —  that  he  put  duty 
to  God  Jirst,  and  made  the  things  of  this  world  subservient. 

During  the  autumn  of  this  year,  he  was  pursuing  his  trade 
in  Bath  and  the  vicinity.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  with  what 
fervency  his  heart  turned  toward  the  little  neighborhood  of 
his  home  in  the  wilderness.  Often  were  the  several  persons 
residing  there,  made  the  subjects  of  special  and  earnest  prayer. 
At  one  time,  we  find  him  spending  an  hour  at  his  private  de- 
votions, bearing  them  individually  before  the  mercy-seat  as 
their  several  characters  and  circumstances  seemed  to  require ; 
and  then  writing  letters  to  a  number  of  them  on  the  subject 
of  religion  ;  and  then  again  beseeching  God  that  what  he  had 
written  might  be  blessed  to  the  good  of  their  souls.  At 
another  time,  we  find  him  going  the  same  round,  and,  as  he 
went  on  particularizing,  his  heart  was  exceedingly  moved, 
and  his  mind  fixed  upon  an  impenitent  neighbor,*  and  he  in- 
terceded with  God  in  his  behalf  even  to  an  agony,  till  his 
speech  failed  him  and  he  was  almost  overwhelmed,  —  and  felt 
unwilling  to  let  God  go  without  a  blessing  for  him  and  hia 
family ;  and  then  another  neighbor,!  and  her  children,  were 
embraced  in  the  arms  of  prayer,  and  borne  upward  to  God ; 
and  then,  when  he  had  done  particularizing,  repeating  his  re- 

*  Mr.  John  MiichelL  t  Mrs.  Linscutt 


52  MEMOIR    OF  [1791. 

quests  with  great  earnestness  for  those,  particularly,  who 
were  unconverted,  till  his  soul  was  again  overborne  in  longing 
and  wrestling  for  their  salvation; — and  then  he  shrinks  as 
it  were  into  nothingness,  and  exclaims, '  Oh,  what  am  I,  that 
God  should  thus  fill  my  mouth  with  arguments,  and  suffer  me 
to  come  near,  even  to  his  seat !  I  will  remember  Aee,  O 
Lord,  from  the  land  of  Jordan,  and  the  Hermonites,  and  from 
the  hill  Mizar.' 

But  the  beginning  of  this  series  of  pleadings  (as  it  appears 
to  be),  deserves  our  attention.  Not  long  after  leaving  home 
at  that  time,  he  says  :  '  Went  to  my  devotions  one  night  this 
week  in  a  very  wandering  state  of  mind  ;  so  indifferent  that 
I  could  scarcely  keep  my  mind  a  minute  at  a  time  on  spiritual 
things,  till  I  began  to  particularize  my  neighbors  at  Chester, 
and  then  I  found  enlargement.'  He  afterwards  tried  the  same 
method  with  the  same  success.  Perhaps  this  remedy  for 
wanderings  and  listlessness,  might  be  useful  to  others.  For 
the  encouragement  of  praying  souls,  it  is  proper  to  remark 
here,  that  most  of  the  persons  who,  up  to  this  time,  have  been 
named  in  his  diary  as  special  subjects  of  prayer,  sooner  or 
later,  became  hopeful  subjects  of  renewing  grace.  Many  of 
his  neighbors,  and  others,  will  probably  first  learn,  in  eternity, 
their  indebtedness,  under  God,  to  his  supplications. 

The  result  of  a  small  difficulty  which  occurred  in  Novem- 
ber of  this  year,  is  worthy  of  notice.  One  Saturday  night,  a 
little  trouble  arose  in  effecting  a  settlement  with  a  man  for 
whom  he  had  been  at  work.  It  arose,  as  he  thought,  from 
unreasonableness  in  his  employer.  The  fact  disturbed  him  in 
his  evening  devotions.  He  awoke  some  time  before  light,  and 
found  the  unhappy  subject  upon  his  mind.  He  strove  to  ban- 
ish it  by  turning  his  meditations  upon  Divine  things.  As  soon 
as  he  had  obtained  a  little  relief  in  this  way,  as  nature  re- 
quired more  sleep,  he  drowsed,  and  immediately  his  thoughts 
would  return  to  the  old  subject,  and  give  such  pain  as  to 
awake  him.  This  was  repeated  a  number  of  times,  till  (says 


1791.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  53 

be), '  I  resolved  to  arise  and  retire,  and  make  my  complaints 
known  to  God,  which  I  did.  And  as  soon  as  I  opened  my 
mouth  to  God  in  prayer,  I  found  him  graciously  present  to 
ease  my  mind,  and  give  me  sweet  nearness  of  access  to  him. 
Continued  long  in  the  duty.  Experienced  overcoming  de- 
eires  in  intercession  for  the  cause  of  God  in  general,  andffor  this 
place  [Bath],  and  Hallowell,  in  particular.  When  I  had  con- 
cluded my  devotions,  it  was  daylight  "  Until  the  day  break, 
and  the  shadows  flee  away,  turn,  my  beloved,  and  be  thou  like 
a  roe  or  a  young  hart  upon  the  mountains  of  Bether." ' 

His  reverence  for  God  and  his  worship,  as  exhibited  in  a 
little  incident  which  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
is  worthy  of  a  place  here.  He  had  occasion  to  go  hastily  to  a 
neighbor's  on  an  errand.  He  found  his  neighbor  reading  for 
family  prayer.  He  however  knocked,  and  his  neighbor  came 
to  the  door,  and  he  did  the  errand.  But  afterward,  his  con- 
science'smote  him  for  the  act,  and  he  confessed  it,  as  a  sin,  to 
God  and  his  neighbor. 

Having  now  supplied  a  chasm  in  his  history  which  he  had 
left  principally  unfilled,  and  given  the  reader  a  view  of  his 
private  Christian  character,  —  we  return  to  his  own  nar- 
rative. 

'  Some  time  before  I  publicly  professed  religion,  I  was  tried 
about  baptism,  —  not  so  much  the  mode  as  the  subject.  Friends 
loaned  me  books  on  both  sides.  I  read  and  read ;  but  was 
not  satisfied.  Too  much  of  an  unchristian  spirit  appeared  to 
be  exercised  by  their  authors.  I  resolved  on  a  different 
course.  I  resorted  to  the  Bible,  and  to  prayer,  for  light  and 
guidance.  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  study  the  whole  Bible  prayer- 
fully, and  not  (as  some  would  have  had  me),  the  New  Testa- 
ment only.  If  I  ever  prayed  for  anything,  I  prayed  that  the 
Lord  would  afford  me  light  on  this  subject.  The  business  of 
searching  and  comparing  one  part  of  Scripture  with  another, 

5* 


54  MEMOIR    OP  [1791.- 

occupied  considerable  time.  I  found  that  in  several  important 
covenants  into  which  God  had  entered  with  his  people,  he  had 
respect  to  their  offspring.  Such  were  the  covenant  of  the 
priesthood  with  Aaron  ;  the  covenant  of  royalty  with  David  ; 
and  the  covenant  of  grace  with  Abraham.  This  last,  was  to 
Abraham,  and  his  seed  after  him,  for  an  everlasting  covenant. 
The  thing  engaged  was,  to  be  a  God  to  him  and  them,  in  their 
generations,  forever.  I  found  that  believers  in  Christ,  under 
the  Gospel  dispensation,  were  styled  "  Abraham's  seed,  and 
heirs  according  to  the  promise."  If  they  are  Abraham's  seed, 
it  follows  that  the  same  covenant  which  was  established  with 
him  and  his  posterity,  is  established  with  them.  And  as 
Abraham  testified  his  belief  in  God's  promises  to  him  and 
his  by  giving  up  his  sons  to  God  in  circumcision,  so  his  spirit- 
ual children  under  the  Gospel  dispensation,  give  up  their 
children  to  God  in  baptism,  —  believing  that  he  will  be  their 
God,  and  engaging  to  train  them  up  for  him.  In  proof  of 
the  use  of  baptism  as  a  seal  of  this  covenant,  I  found  it  ap- 
:  applied  to  three  households  in  the  New  Testament.  When 
Lydia's  heart  was  opened,  her  household  were  baptized  with 
her.  When  the  jailer  believed,  his  household,  at  the  same 
hour  of  the  night,  were  baptized  with  him.  The  household 
•of  Stephanas,  it  would  seem,  were  baptized  with  himself. 
From  the  little  knowledge  I  had  of  church  history,  it  appeared 
.that  infant  baptism  was  in  general  use  soon  after  the  days  of 
the  apostles,  and  so  continued  without  any  society  believing 
to  the  contrary,  for  a  long  time  ;  and  it  appeared  to  me  im- 
possible that  such  an  innovation  could  have  been  universally 
introduced  without  a  single  person's  rising  up  to  bear  testi- 
mony against  it ;  —  and  since  that  time,  I  have  been  so  con- 
firmed, and  blessed,  in  relation  to  infant  baptism,  that  I  can 
never  renounce  it,  unless  I  could  renounce  all  experimental 
religion.*  Indeed,  for  more  than  half  a  century,  I  think  I  can 

*  He  probably  means  simply  what  he  himself  had  experienced. 


1792.]  JOTIIAMSEWALL.  55 

say  with  safety,  that  I  have  had  no  more  doubt  of  the  pro- 
priety of  infant  baptism,  or  of  its  being  agreeable  to  the  will 
of  God,  than  I  have  of  the  truth  of  the 'Bible  itself.' 

His  language  here  is  strong  —  perhaps,  too  strong.  But 
he  intended  it  only  as  expressing  the  firmness  of  his  own  per- 
suasion. It  is  not  to  be  understood  as  implying  that,  in  his 
mind,  any  evidence  of  an  external  rite,  or,  indeed,  of  any 
point  of  doctrine,  is,  or  can  be  superior  to  that  of  the  Bible. 
He  grounded  his  belief  in  Infant  Baptism  on  the  Sacred 
Word,  and  then  regarded  the  sensible  presence  of  God,  which 
he  enjoyed  in  the  ordinance,  as  strong  corroborative  evidence 
of  its  being  agreeable  to  the  Divine  will.  His  argument  ap- 
pears to  be  this  :  I  certainly  think  that  I  am  acquainted  with 
experimental  religion,  —  but  if  I  have  ever  enjoyed  the 
special  spiritual  presence  of  God,  I  have  enjoyed  it  in  attend- 
ing to  this  ordinance  ;  —  now  if  infants  should  not  be  baptized, 
to  baptize  them  is  a  profanation  of  a  solemn  ordinance  and 
of  the  name  of  the  Trinity  which  is  used  in  it.  It  must 
therefore  be  highly  offensive  to  God.  And  if  thus  offensive, 
would  he  grant  his  special  presence  to  the  soul  in  it  ?  Would 
he  make  it  one  of  the  sweetest  of  all  the  means  and  seasons  of 
intercourse  with  him  which  he  allows  his  people  to  enjoy  ? 
And  yet  it  has  been  such  to  me.  If  God  mercifully  meets 
with  my  soul  at  all,  he  does  in  this  ordinance.  If  I  have  not 
enjoyed  communion  with  him  in  this,  I  know  not  what  it  is, 
and  must  relinquish  the  idea,  that  I  am  acquainted  with  ex- 
perimental religion.  The  matter  as  it  stood  before  his  mind 
Was  thus  reduced  to  the  following  alternative :  Infant  Baptism 
is  a  Divine  institution,  —  or,  God  graces  a  profanation  abhor- 
rent to  his  nature  with  his  special,  sensible  presence ;  and  be- 
tween the  two,  he  could  not  hesitate  which  to  choose. 

At  the  period  we  have  now  reached  (1792),  he  had  two 
sons ;  (an  infant  between  them  had  died).  Living  at  a  dis- 
tance from  Augusta,  in  which  the  church  to  which  he  belonged 


56  MEMOIR    OF  [1792. 

was  organized,*  and  owning  no  horse,  it  was  inconvenient  to 
carry  them  there  for  baptism.  A  missionary  from  Massachu- 
setts, Rev.  Levi  Frisbie,  was  preaching  at  Farmington  ;  and 
by  invitation,  gave  a  lecture  in  Chesterville,  and  performed 
the  solemn  service.  The  meeting  was  held  in  a  private  house. 
The  settlement  contained  at  this  time  no  house  of  worship,  or 
school-house ;  and  only  a  few  framed  houses.  The  subject  of 
this  memoir  then  lived  in  a  log-house.  But  he  shall  give  his 
own  account.  '  After  the  appointment  was  made,'  he  says, '  I 
then  had  another  important  errand  at  the  throne  of  grace. 
As  the  Lord  (by  his  Word  and  Spirit,  I  trusted),  had  satisfied 
me  as  to  the  matter  of  duty,  I  now  wished  him  to  be  with  me 
in  its  performance.  [I  retired,  and  earnestly  besought  God 
meet  with  me  in  the  solemn  transaction.  I  could  appeal  to 
him,  as  the  searcher  of  hearts,  that  I  did  not  desire  to  have 
the  service  performed,  if  it  was  displeasing  to  him ;  and  that 
it  was  my  greatest  concern  to  meet  his  holy  approbation. 
Went  to  meeting  with  the  same  temper.  And  truly,  God  was 
with  me. — Diary].  I  presented  my  children  ;  and  if  ever  I 
enjoyed  the  presence  of  God  in  my  soul  in  any  duty,  I  did 
then,  and  to  an  unusual  degree.  My  soul  was  overshadowed 
and  overpowered;  —  and  I  was  ready  to  say  with  David, 
"  Who  am  I,  O  Lord  God,  and  what  is  my  house,  or  my 
father's  house,  that  thou  hast  brought  me  hitherto  ?" —  that 
thou  hast  given  me  a  standing  in  thy  church,  and  a  share  in 
thy  promises  ?  And,  as  if  this  was  a  small  thing,  hast  thou 
made  promises  to  be  the  God  of  my  seed,  and  hast  given  me 
an  ordinance  in  which  I  may  devote  them  to  thee  in  token 
of  thy  faithfulness  in  time  to  come  ?  "  Is  this  the  manner  of 
men,  0  Lord  God  ?  "  This  glow  of  enjoyment  was  not  the 
•flash  of  a  moment.  It  abode  with  me,  in  good  measure,  for 
days  and  weeks.  And  on  similar  occasions  since,  I  have  pos- 

*  It  is  the  present  Congregational  church  of  Hallowell.  Its  name, 
'  The  Church  of  Chester,'  was  changed,  by  its  own  act.  to  '  The  Church 
of  Hallowell,'  March  15,  1791. 


1794-5.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  57 

Sessed  more  or  less  of  the  same  enjoyment.'  How  much  the 
writer,  and  an  older  brother,  are  indebted  to  this  and  other 
acts  of  parental  faith,  eternity  must  reveal.  And  the  same 
remark  is  applicable  to  the  younger  children. 

The  wise  man  says  that  "  a  man's  gift  maketh  room  for 
him  ; "  and  this  is  seen  in  the  person  at  whose  history  we  are 
glancing.  God  had  given  him  a  strong,  well-balanced  mind  ; 
and  he  had  kindled  in  his  heart  a  flame  of  ardent  and  devoted 
piety.  The  light  thus  existing  could  not  be  hid.  We  have 
already  seen,  how  soon  after  his  conversion  his  gifts  were 
called  into  exercise,  in  social  religious  meetings  ;  and  how  his 
desire  to  do  good  would  not  suffer  him  to  be  idle  in  any 
situation. 

The  existence  of  some  special  religious  interest  in  the 
neighboring  region  rendered  the  inhabitants  desirous  of  meet- 
ings, especially  on  the  Sabbath.  In  1794,  we  find  such  meet- 
ings held,  with  greater  or  less  regularity,  in  Farmington,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  about  half  way  between  what  is 

now  the  centre  of  the  town  and  the  Falls.     These  meetings 

0 

Appear  to  have  been  conducted  by  himself  or  his  brother-in- 
law,  Samuel  Sewall,  (afterwards  minister  in  Edgecomb ; )  and 
in  the  same  manner  as  those  which  we  have  already  noticed. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1794,  and  the  former  part  of  1795,  the 
religious  interest  appears  to  have  been  considerable,  and 
somewhat  extensive  ;  and  in  January  of  the  latter  year,  we 
find  him  and  this  brother  taking  a  tour  in  Farmington,  going 
up  on  the  east  and  coming  down  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
visiting  families,  conversing,  and  praying.  Soon  after  this, 
we  find  him,  accompanied  by  another  brother  of  the  church, 
extending  an  excursion  of  this  kind  into  the  town  of  New 
Vineyard,  where  a  number  were  anxious ;  and  holding  social 
meetings  on  week-day  and  Sabbath  day.  Similar  meetings, 
with  much  interest  to  himself  and  others,  we  find  him  occa- 
sionally holding  in  Wilton,  and  the  south  part  of  Chester,  now 
Chesterville.  Occasionally,  also,  as  there  was  no  stated  min- 


58  MEMOIR    OF  [1796. 

ister  near,  he  was  called  on  to  attend  funerals.  At  first,  he 
hesitated,  as  it  looked  a  little  too  much  like  assuming  the 
ministerial  office ;  but,  advising  with  his  brethren  he  felt  it  his 
duty  not  to  deny.  His  habit  on  these  occasions,  was  to  give 
an  exhortation,  and  offer  prayer. 

A  number  of  persons  in  the  vicinity,  who  favored  Congre- 
gationalism, had  now  become  pious ;  and  it  was  deemed  ex- 
pedient for  the  members  of  the  Hallowell  church  residing  in 
Chesterville,  to  enjoy  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  admit  these  to  communion.  For  this  purpose,  they  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson,  who  was  a  settled 
pastor  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Cumberland.*  At  a  meet- 
ing, August  15th,  and  the  following  day,  (Sabbath,)  fourteen 
were  received,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  administered.  By  a 
vote  of  the  church  in  Hallowell,  April  23,  1796,  the  mem- 
bers in  Chesterville  and  vicinity  were  set  off  for  a  separate 
church.  August  18th,  they  organized,  and  received  three 
additional  members.  Subsequently,  (October  8th,)  they  as- 
sumed the  name  of  '  Chester  and  Farmington  Church,'  and 
chose  the  subject  of  this  narrative  and  Mr.  Samuel  Sewall, 
their  deacons.  And  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader 
here  to  be  told,  that  this  church,  at  the  suggestion  of  its  senior 
deacon,  on  the  10th  of  the  following  January,  established  a 
quarterly  Concert  of  Prayer,  for  the  conversion  of  the  world. 
It  was  to  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  quarter,  begin- 
ning with  January. 

It  is  not  strange  that  one  who,  by  the  grace  of  God  and  the 
circumstances  hi  which  he  was  placed,  had  been  drawn  out 
into  so  many  active  duties  as  a  private  member,  and  who 
possessed  such  deep  solicitude  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  should 

*  This  gentleman,  afterwards  settled  in  Wenham,  Mass.,  was  the 
father  of  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson,  Secretary  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  who  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and 
the  remains  of  whose  mother  lie  in  Cumberland. 


1796.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  59 

think  of  the  ministry.*  We  find  some  trials  on  his  mind 
respecting  this  as  far  back  as  September,  1787.  As  might 
be  supposed,  he  was  variously  exercised,  sometimes  drawn 
toward  it  by  delight  in  the  service  of  God  and  desires  to  do 
good,  and  at  others  repelled  by  a  deep  feeling  of  unfitness  in 
all  respects,  and  by  the  obstacles  which  lay  in  his  way.  He 
carried  the  matter,  as  he  did  everything  else,  to  his  Father  in 
heaven,  by  earnest  prayer.  He  pleaded,  he  wrestled,  he 
agonized  to  know  the  path  of  duty.  He  spent  days  of  private 
fasting  and  prayer,  that  light  from  heaven  might  be  shed  upon 
his  path.  At  length,  he  became  anxious  to  know  what  con- 
stituted a  call  to  the  Gospel  ministry.  Having  an  opportu- 
nity, he  opened  his  mind  to  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  George- 
town, and  asked  advice.  As  the  result  of  the  interview,  and 
to  make  trial  of  his  ability  and  knowledge,  Mr.  E.  gave  him 
a  text  on  which  to  write  a  sermon.  He  was  then  building  a 
brick  house  in  the  place,  with  an  apprentice  and  a  journey- 
man. He  seized  upon  half-days  when  the  weather  was  un- 
favorable for  his  work,  and  such  scraps  of  time  as  he  could 
command,  and  completed  the  undertaking.  He  read  it  to 
Mr.  E.,  who  was  favorably  impressed,  and  encouraged  him 
to  enter  the  ministry.  He  conversed  with  other  ministers, 
as  he  had  opportunity,  who  also  favored  the  idea.  And  here 
it  is  proper  to  remark,  that  his  mind  was  not  as  uninformed 
and  destitute  of  cultivation  and  discipline,  as  from  the  scanti- 
ness of  his  literary  advantages  it  would  be  natural  to  infer. 
Divine  revelation  opens  the  very  best  field  for  the  expansion 
and  cultivation  of  the  mind ;  and  the  person  who  has  been 
intently  and  continuously  occupied  in  it,  cannot  be  ignorant. 
Such  was  the  fact  with  the  person  now  before  us.  The 
work  of  grace  had  been  deep  in  his  own  heart.  The 
Spirit  had  taught  him  many  things,  clearly  and  impressively, 

*  This  part  of  his  autobiography  I  give  in  my  own  language,  for 
the  convenience  of  introducing  a  number  of  things  which  he  has 
omitted. 


60  MEMOIR    OF  [1796. 

which  too  many  but  obscurely  perceive.  His  longings  after 
God  drew  him  out  upon  the  great  ocean  of  revealed  truth, 
there  to  occupy  his  thoughts,  and  feast  at  once  his  intellect 
and  his  heart.  Few  minds,  it  is  thought,  are  so  habitually 
occupied  with  Divine  truth  as  his  had  been  for  years.  He 
studied  upon  the  great  leading  trutlis  of  the  Bible,  and  follow- 
ed them  out  in  their  various  ramifications.  And  this  was 
attended  with  fervent  prayer  for  Divine  direction.  We  find 
him  praying  specifically  for  '  light  on  doctrines.'  And  it  is 
certainly  safe  to  say  that  there  are  few,  who  lean  so  entirely 
upon  God,  and  who  seek  everything,  and  expect  everything, 
from  God  alone,  as  he  did,  both  before  and  after  entering  the 
ministry.  One  can  scarcely  look  minutely  into  his  history 
without  being  forcibly  impressed  with  the  thought,  that  the 
school  in  which  he  was  instructed  and  disciplined  very  much 
resembles  that  in  which  the  Apostles  were  trained.  We  find 
him  also  reading  Edwards's  Sermons  and  Treatise  on  the 
Will,  and  other  works  of  standard  value,  such  as  Davies's 
Sermons,  and  Henry's  Exposition,  beside  church  history. 
Events,  also,  which  occurred  in  the  course  of  providence, 
called  forth  and  strongly  exercised  his  mind,  in  different  di- 
rections. Anything  which  affected  the  peace,  purity,  and 
prosperity  of  the  church,  or  endangered  the  interests  of  truth 
and  the  salvation  of  souls,  touched  a  chord  within  him  whose 
vibrations  were  strong.  When  a  pious  neighbor,  with  whom 
he  had  taken  much  sweet  fellowship,  in  private  and  in  social 
meetings,  thought  that  he  must  be  immersed  and  adopt  strict 
communion  sentiments,  and  thus  the  harmony  of  their  delight- 
ful little  circle  seemed  about  to  be  broken,  his  mind  was  exer- 
cised intensely  upon  the  subject  of  Christian  union.  He 
examined  its  nature  and  bearings  ;  and  took  different  points 
of  observation,  that  he  might  view  it  minutely  and  accurately. 
Like  a  surveyor,  who,  in  running  a  line,  if  he  misses  his  ob- 
ject at  the  end,  changes  his  position  and  varies  his  course, 
and  runs  back  to  correct  it,  —  he  reasoned  in  one  direction, 


1797.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  61 

and  then  turned  round  and  reasoned  back  again,  that  he  might 
reach  the  right  conclusion.  His  reflections  and  arguments 
show  a  clearness  and  discrimination  of  mind,  which  would 
scarcely  have  been  supposed.  The  sketch  of  them  which  he 
has  left  would  not  be  altogether  uninteresting  to  the  theologian, 
the  casuist,  or  the  mental  philosopher ;  and  are  creditable  to 
his  heart  as  well  as  his  intellect.  Sentiments  respecting  the 
freedom  of  the  will,  also,  which  he  regarded  as  erroneous,  and 
lax  views  of  the  obligation  of  the  moral  law,  began  to  be  pro- 
pagated in  the  vicinity;  and,  within  the  limit  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  was  questioned.  These 
tilings  called  out  his  mind,  and  more  than  his  mind  simply,  in' 
these  directions.  He  reasoned,  as  he  had  opportunity,  with 
those  whom  he  regarded  as  heterodox  in  these  particulars- 
At  one  time,  we  find  him  engaged  in  a  long  argnmentative 
letter  to  an  acquaintance  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  ;  and 
at  another,  in  penning  strictures  on  a  sermon  of  a  celebrated 
Methodist  clergyman.  "We  sometimes  also  find  him  writing 
his  thoughts  on  certain  subjects,  and  upon  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture. By  these  various  means,  he  obtained  more  than  would 
have  been  called  a  respectable  measure  of  knowledge  and 
cultivation  of  mind.  A  hasty  sketch  which  he  has  given  us 
of  a  season  of  self-examination  some  time  before  this,  evinces 
a  directness  of  thought  and  a  power  to  command  the  attention, 
which  few  possess  or  attain. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Ward,  then  minister  in  what  is  now  Alna, 
appears  to  have  furnished  him  with  a  number  of  questions  on 
theological  subjects,  on  which  he  wrote ;  and  on  the  18th  of 
October,  1797,  he  received  a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson, 
requesting  him  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of  Lincoln  Minis- 
terial Association  at  Bristol,  to  be  examined  for  license  to 
•  preach.  Several  things  appeared  to  render  it  inexpedient 
for  him  to  attend,  and  he' declined  by  letter.  The  following 
spring,  he  spent  a  little  time  in  study  with  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson. 
Here,  in  two  days,  he  wrote  what  he  regarded  as  his  first 

6 


62  MEMOIBOF  [1798. 

sermon,  from  Heb.  11 :  16.  The  plan  is  textual,  describing 
the  better  country,  those  who  desire  it,  and  why  God  is  not 
ashamed  to  be  called  their  God.  It  contains  many  interest- 
ing and  instructive  thoughts ;  and,  for  a  first  effort,  is  a 
respectable  and  worthy  production.  It  appears  to  have  been 
used  only  twice.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1798,  he  was  examined 
and  licensed  by  the  above-named  Association  at  Bath.  His 
first  Sabbath's  preaching  was  in  the  south  part  of  Chesterville, 
May  13th.  The  remainder  of  the  season  till  into  November, 
he  preached  half  the  time  in' Norridgewock,  where,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  powerful  work  of  grace  two  years  previous,  undei 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Phinehas  Randal,  a  Congregational 
church  had  been  formed.  Christians  were  edified,  and  a  few 
persons  awakened  and  hopefully  converted.  The  other  half 
of  the  time,  he  preached  principally  in  Chesterville  and 
Farmington. 

It  shows  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  to  find,  in 
the  close  of  this  year,  a  somewhat  general  effort  made  in 
Farmington,  Chesterville,  and  Wilton,  to  secure  his  services. 
Viewing  this  as  a  call  in  providence,  he  engaged.  It  will  be 
interesting  to  take  a  glance  at  his  diary,  and  see  with  what 
feelings,  and  in  what  manner,  he  entered  upon  his  work  in 
these  places.  The  new  year  had  commenced,  and  he  had 
felt  it  a  duty  and  privilege  to  devote  a  day  to  private  fasting 
and  prayer,  reading  and  meditation.  He  says, '  My  soul  was 
much  drawn  out  in  family  prayer,  and  seemed  to  melt  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners  in  this  vicinity.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
the  satisfaction  I  took  in  that  prayer,  [as  the  frame  of  mind 
resulted  somewhat  from  anticipating  the  duties  of  the  day,] 
was  more  than  a  balance  for  a  whole  day's  fasting.  After 
family  worship,  I  took  my  room,  and  entered  on  the  business 
of  the  day  with  much  satisfaction.  Earnestly  begged  God  to*' 
afford  me  his  company ;  and,  as  a  reason,  told  him  that  I 
could  not  be  alone  without  him,  —  i.  e.,  to  any  good  purpose. 
I  think  he  was  graciously  pleased  to  answer  my  requests,  and 


May.]  jo  in  AM  SEW  ALL.      .  68 

condescended  to  meet  with  my  soul  and  assist  and  draw  it 
forth  repeatedly  in  calling  upon  his  name,  and  devoting  my- 
self to  him.  Felt  very  sensibly  the  imperfections  of  my  past 
public  performances ;  earnestly  begged  qualification  for  the 
great  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry ;  and  that  I  might  be  forti- 
fied against  opposition  and  reproach,  and  not  left  to  do  any- 
thing inconsistent  with  that  high  calling,  but  remember  that  I 
am  devoted  to  God  for  this  solemn  business,  and  that  I  have 
no  right  to  engage  in  any  employment  prejudicial  to  that,  till 
God  shall  signify,  in  the  course  of  his  providence,  that  he  has 
no  further  service  for  me  in  the  ministry.  Prayed  to  have 
more  substantial  badges  of  my  calling  than  distinction  of  dress, 
or  separation  to  it  from  worldly  business  ;  that  I  might  have 
some  as  seals  of  my  ministry,  so  that  my  calling  might  be 
evinced  to  others,  not  to  the  feeding  of  my  pride,  but  that  my 
hands  might  be  strengthened  in  the  Lord  by  the  prayers  and 
help  of  the  godly,  and  that  others  might  hear  the  word  from 
me  as  the  word  of  God.  Prayed  that  the  door  in  this  vicin- 
ity which  has  been  opening  of  late,  might  be  held  open  till 
some  good  is  done,  in  spite  of  all  the  exertions  of  earth  and 
hell  to  shut  it ;  and  that  opposers  (some  appear  already) 
might  be  brought  to  bow  to  King  Jesus.  Poured  out  tears 
to  God  in  behalf  of  my  wife  and  children,  that  they  may  be- 
come his  friends,  and  that  rich  spiritual  blessings  may  be 
poured  out  upon  us.  Inquired  how  long  God  intended  to 
deny  my  requests  respecting  my  family  ;  but  begged  for  sub- 
mission that  I  may  patiently  wait  his  time.  At  the  close  of 
the  day,  looked  over  and  bewailed  the  wandering  thoughts 
that  had  stolen  from  the  employment  of  the  day ;  besought 
the  Holy  Dove  not  to  take  wing  and  leave  me  on  this  account ; 
and  endeavored  to  bless  God  for  a  place  of  retirement,  and 
that  the  day  had  been  allowed  me  without  interruption,  and 
that  he  had  graciously  afforded  such  measures  of  his  comfort- 
ing, enlightening,  assisting  presence.  Meditated  on  a  subject 
for  to-morrow,  (Sabbath,)  from  these  words  :  "  Alas !  master, 


64  MEMOIR    OF  [1799. 

for  it  was  borrowed,"  (2  Kings,  6:5).  Found  meditating 
upon  it  comfortable  to  myself.  This  day,  I  reflected,  is  bor- 
rowed ;  and  blessed  be  God  for  lending  it  to  me  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  lending  me  a  heart  to  improve  it,  in  a  measure, 
profitably.  Oh,  that  it  may  please  him  to  lend  me  strength 
to  speak  on  this  subject  suitably,  and  to  the  advantage  of  those 
who  may  hear  !  Retired  abroad  for  secret  prayer  at  twilight, 
and  a  sweet  time  it  was  to  my  soul  indeed.  I  could  say  of  a 
truth,  that  Divine  enjoyment  was  more  satisfying  to  my  soul 
than  food  would  have  been  to  my  body,  though  I  had  then 
fasted  nearly  twenty-four  hours.  Wrestled,  even  to  an  agony, 
till  I  was  almost  spent,  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  parti- 
cularly in  this  vicinity  ;  and  that  God  would  roll  away  the 
reproach  of  barrenness  from  me.  Inquired  why  I  should  be 
called  into  the  ministry,  why  admitted  into  God's  family,  if  I 
might  not  be  fruitful.  Thought  I  could  be  willing  to  fast  till 
my  body  was  reduced  to  a  skeleton,  if  it  might  be  the  means 
of  saving  souls  ;  or  even  to  give  up  my  life,  if  they  might  but 
live.'  At  the  close  of  the  evening,  after  having  enjoyed  the 
same  solemn  state  of  mind  in  worship  at  the  table  and  in 
family  devotion,  he  exclaims :  '  Oh,  how  sweet  is  communion 
with  God  here !  Oh,  to  increase  in  conformity  to  him  while 
here,  so  as  to  be  admitted  to  dwell  with  him  forever  here- 
after !  Longed  to  be  where  I  should  sin  no  more,  where  lusts 
and  corruptions  shall  no  more  rebel  and  vex  my  soul,  and 
where  tears  shall  be  forever  wiped  from  my  eyes.' 

It  may  be  proper  here,  to  speak  of  his  manner  of  prepar- 
ing for  the  Sabbath,  and  for  preaching  at  other  times.  Jle 
seldom  used  fully  written  sermons.  His  a\m,  first  of  all,  was 
to  get  near  to  God.  If  a  subject  did  not  readily  present  itself, 
he  asked  for  one.  If  in  attempting  to  arrange  his  thoughts 
upon  one  already  before  him,  he  did  not  succeed,  he  laid  down 
his  pen,  and  betook  himself  to  his  knees,  —  and  then  he  sel- 
dom failed  of  having  his  thoughts  flow  readily,  and  could  often 
accomplish  more  in  a  short  time,  than  in  hours  before.  During 


1799.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  65 

the  former  part  of  his  ministry,  he  generally  prepared  rather 
a  full  skeleton  ;  and  begged  of  God,  earnestly,  to  assist  him 
in  delivery.  A  few  instances  are  here  given.  '  Rose  pretty 
early.  Pleaded  with  God  in  secret  for  his  blessing  with  me 
to  day.  Felt  some  of  the  same  in  family  prayer.  Enjoyed 
tolerable  freedom  in  the  forenoon,  discoursing  from  Prov,  4 : 
18,  and  in  outgoings  of  soul  in  prayer.  Longed  for  the  sal- 
vation of  perishing  sinners.  Retired  at  noon,  and  endeavored 
to  return  thanks  for  God's  gracious  assistance ;  felt  that  I  had 
more  than  I  deserved ;  but  begged  of  God,  that  if  consistent 
with  his  will,  he  would  grant  greater  measures  in  the  afternoon; 
which  he  graciously  granted.  Felt  warmed  and  engaged 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  discourse,  addressing  the  impenitent. 
Some  moving  upon  some  minds  appeared.'  At  another  time 
we  find  him  wrestling  with  God,  with  great  importunity,  till 
his  strength  began  to  fail,  for  success  in  winning  souls  to 
Christ ;  and  then  again  retiring  to  a  forest  at  daylight  on 
Sabbath  morning,  and  remaining  in  prayer  and  meditation 
till  some  time  after  sunrise.  Not  unfrequently  do  we  find  him 
rising  during  the  night,  on  Saturday,  to  plead  for  a  blessing 
on  the  subsequent  day.  Nor  were  these  things  confined  to 
his  ministerial  life,  —  the  same  facts  appear  in  connection 
with  the  Sabbaths  and  society  meetings  which  preceded  it. 
It  appears  to  have  been  his  practice  to  rise  earlier  on  the 
Sabbath  than  on  other  days,  that  he  might  enjoy  more  of  the 
privilege,  pleasure,  and  profit  of  secret  devotion.  And  often 
he  retired  at  noon  for  confession  or  thanksgiving  in  relation 
to  the  service  just  closed,  and  for  supplication  in  relation  to 
that  which  was  soon  to  follow.  It  seemed  to  be  peculiarly 
true  of  him,  that  he  could  be  contented  nowhere  without  God. 
He  must  enjoy  his  presence  and  his  smiles  in  every  place, 
and  in  every  duty.  If  he  failed  of  this,  he  was  ordinarily  in 
great  trouble  and  distress.  After  he  had  commenced  preach- 
ing, if  this  enjoyment  was  withheld,  he  sometimes  felt  deeply 
discouraged  and>depressed;  and  regarded  it  as  an  intimation 
6* 


66  MEMOIR    OP  [1800, 

that  God  had  not  called  him,  and  that  he  had  better  kept  to 
his  trowel  and  his  farm.  It  distressed  him  exceedingly  that 
'  starving  souls'  who  came  to  the  place  of  worship,  should  be 
fed  with  such  husks  as  he  felt  that  he  there  administered.  At 
other  times,  however,  his  mind  took  a  somewhat  different  view, 
—  and  he  felt  that  God  had  a  right  to  withhold  his  sensible 
presence,  and  use  him  just  as  he  pleased.  But  we  return  to 
his  narrative. 

<In  the  years  of  1799  and  1800,  and  the  greater  part  of 
1801,  I  preached  alternately  in  Chesterville,  Farmington,  and 
Wilton.  [Wilton  was  ihen  called  Tingtownj.  I  preached 
frequently  three  times  on  the  Sabbath,  and  a  number  of  lec- 
tures on  week  days.  No  general  awakening,  or  revival  of 
religion,  was  the  result  Good  attention  was  given  to  preach- 
ing ;  and  a  number  of  individual  cases  of  awakening  and 
hopeful  conversion  occurred.  One  man  who  went  from  N. 
Sharon  to  Wilton  on  business,  on  the  Sabbath,  heard  truths 
which  were  blessed,  as  it  is  thought,  to  his  salvation.  He  be- 
•came  one  of  the  most  active  men  in  his  own  town  for  the  sup- 
•-port  of  religious  institutions.  '  Another  man  came  some 
^distance  to  visit  a  brother  in  the  north  part  of  Fayette.  Im- 
•pressions  were  made  on  his  mind  at  a  meeting  in  the  south 
part  of  Chesterville,  which  resulted  in  his  becoming  a  devoted 
•and  active  Christian.  For  many  years  previous  to  his  death, 
lie  was  a  deacon  of  a  Congregational  church.  A  young  man 
•was  wrought  upon,  and  became  hopefully  pious.  He  after- 
Tvards  became  a  minister,  and  a  settled  pastor ;  and  has  been 
'blessed  with  revivals  of  religion  among  his  charge.  In  one 
of  these  he  received,  I  think,  about  sixty  to  his  church. 

'  On  the  18th  day  of  June,  1800,  I  was  ordained  as  an 
•Evangelist,  by  the  Association  which  licensed  me.  The 
solemnity  was  performed  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ward,  of  N.  Milford  [now  Alna].  Mr.  Benjamin  Chat- 
man,  who  was  then  preaching  at  Edgecomb,  offered  the  first 
•prayer ;  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Georgetown,  preached ;  Rev. 


June.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  67 

John  Sawyer,  then  supplying  at  Boothbay,  offered  the  conse- 
crating prayer ;  Rev.  Mr.  McLean,  of  Bristol,  gave  the 
charge ;  Rev.  Mr.  Bayley,  of  N.  Castle  gave  the  right-hand 
of  fellowship ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  Gillet,  of  Hallowell,  offered  the 
concluding  prayer.*  During  the  imposition  of  hands,  and 
while  receiving  the  charge,  I  felt  a  solemn,  affecting  sense  of 
the  important  trust  committed  to  me  by  Christ,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  his  ministers ;  and  in  receiving  the  right- 
hand  of  fellowship,  I  was  .moved  under  a  sense  of  my  un- 
worthiness  to  be  classed  among  the  accredited  ministers  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and  of  my  absolute  need  of  Divine  as- 
sistance to  fulfil  the  important  duties  of  the  office.  In  secret 
devotions  in  the  evening,  I  was  enabled  sweetly  to  devote 
myself  to  the  service  of  God,  and  beseech  him  to  assist  me 
in  the  great,  arduous,  and  difficult  work  of  the  Gospel  Minis- 
try ;  and  I  felt  as  if  it  would  be  a  short  time,  only,  before  I 
must  resign  up  into  the  hands  of  Christ  the  important  trust 
now  committed  to  me.' 

His  compensation,  during  the  time  of  his  preaching  in  Ches- 
terville,  Farmington,  and  Wilton,  was  small.  According  to 
his  first  agreement,  (with  which  the  others  probably  coin- 
cided), it  was  only  two  dollars  a  Sabbath.  Having  a  farm  to 
take  care  of,  and  a  rising  family  to  provide  for,'  secular  em- 
ployments necessarily  occupied  a  portion  of  his  time.  This 
was  a  trial  to  his  feelings,  and,  at  times,  somewhat  burden- 
some to  his  conscience.  He  wanted  all  his  time  for  reading 
and  study,  and  the  more  active  duties  of  the  sacred  office ; 
and  queries  would  arise  whether  he  ought  not  to  devote  him- 
self wholly  to  his  work,  and  trust  God  for  the  supply  of  his 

*  The  certificates  of  Licensure  and  of  Ordination  are  still  in  exist- 
ence. They  are  both  signed  by  Ezekiel  Emerson  as  moderator,  and 
Alexander  McLean  as  scribe.  As  far  as  appears  from  the  certificate, 
and  the  above  account,  the  ordination  was  performed  by  the  Associa- 
tion as  such,  and  not  by  them  as  a  Council ;  which  would  not  now  bo 
regarded  as  strictly  Congregational. 


68  MEMOIR  OF  [1800. 

temporal  wants.  But  circumstances  seemed  to  require  that 
while,  like  the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  he  preached  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ,  his  hands  should  minister  to  his  physical  neces- 
sities. Notwithstanding  this,  however,  and  the  labor  of 
giving  many  weekly  lectures,  and  attending  funerals,  —  for 
which  he  was  called  upon  in  all  the  vicinity,  —  he  did  much 
at  pastoral  visiting.  When  going  to  or  from  his  distant  ap- 
pointments, we  not  unfrequently  find  him  calling  on  many 
or  all  the  families  upon  the  road,  conversing  and  praying  with 
them  severally.  Sometimes  two  or  three  of  these  visits  would 
be  performed  before  breakfast  At  other  times,  one  visit 
would  be  made  here,  and  another  there,  before  or  after  a 
lecture.  He  knew  not  how  to  be  idle.  Every  hour,  and 
every  half-hour  must  be  filled  up,  and  it  may  be  said  of  him, 
with  emphasis,  that  whatsoever  his  hand  found  to  do,  he  did 
with  his  might. 

Near  the  close  of  1799,  he  was  requested  by  letter,  and 
then  by  a  committee,  to  supply  again  at  Norridgewock ;  and 
the  committee  were  anxious  that  he  should  consent  to  settle 
there.  But  he  was  unwilling  to  leave  the  field  he  then  occu- 
pied, till  he  had  seen  some  good  effected.  And,  in  laying  the 
matter  before  the  Lord  hi  secret,  he  says :  '  I  was  led  earnestly 
to  beseech  God  not  to  call  me  away  from  this  place,  till  I  have 
seen  a  day  of  God's  power  among  the  people.'  At  this  time, 
and  for  months  after,  he  was  extremely  anxious  for  the  con- 
version of  sinners  in  Farmington.  One  instance,  out  of  many, 
is  here  given,  as  an  illustration.  He  had  been  attending  a 
meeting  in  that  place,  during  which  he  had  felt  much  on  the 
subject.  Returning  in  his  sleigh,  his  heart  was  going  up 
earnestly  to  God,  most  of  the  way,  for  unconverted  sinners, 
and  that,  if  it  was  God's  will,  he  might,  though  unworthy  of 
such  an  honor,  be  instrumental  of  their  salvation.  He  so 
earnestly  besought  it,  that  he  could  scarcely  contain  himself. 
And  he  opened  his  mouth  to  God  in  a  vow,  that  if  he  would 
without  fail  deliver  up  his  enemies  before  him  and  subjugate 


1800.]  JOTHAM    SB-WALL.  69 

them  to  Christ,  he  would  continue  in  the  work  till  death,  and 
would  devote  one  of  his  sons  to  the  ministry,  if  God  would 
accept  the  offering  ;  and  he  entreated  God  not  to  suffer  him 
to  forget  this  his  vow.  The  frequent  solemnity  apparent  in 
the  assemblies  of  worship,  and  the  though tfulness  of  individu- 
als, caused  him  often  to  feel  that  a  general  shower  of  Divine 
grace  was  about  to  be  bestowed.  There  appears,  indeed,  to 
have  been,  at  this  time,  quite  a  movement  in  the  vicinity. 
We  find  him  naming  a  number  of  deeply  anxious  persons  in 
the  town  of  N.  Vineyard,  —  and  speaking  of  a  wedding  in  that 
place  at  which  he  was,  where,  in  consequence  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  religious  conversation  by  another,  all  present  were 
much  affected,  and  some  literally  broke  out  in  the  question, 
"  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  "  Some  special  attention  ex- 
isted also  in  New  Sharon,  where  a  part  of  his  occasional  labor 
was  bestowed,  in  consequence  of  which  a  Congregational 
church  was  formed  there,  February  11,  1801.  Most  of  the 
persons  who  were  present  at  a  previous  meeting  (December 
17th),  when  the  conclusion  to  embody  a  church  was  adopted, 
he  speaks  of  as  having  been  careless  shiners  eighteen  months 
before. 

An  incident  or  two  which  occurred  during  the  period  we 
have  now  reviewed,  deserves  to  be  noticed  before  we  proceed 
with  his  history.  A  few  days  previous  to  the  preparatory 
meeting  alluded  to  above,  he  had  an  appointment  for  the  Sab- 
bath in  what  was  then  called  the  Plymouth  Patent,  now  In- 
dustry. The  place  could  not  have  been  less  than  ten  or 
twelve  miles  from  his  residence.  Considerable  snow  lay  on 
the  ground,  and  the  roads  were  comparatively  untrod.  A 
heavy  rain  had  just  fallen,  followed  by  a  slight  freezing,  but 
not  enough  to  render  riding  at  all  comfortable.  Saturday 
morning  he  started  on  foot.  On  reaching  Sandy  River,  he 
found  it  so  swollen  that  the  water  covered  the  ice,  and  ex- 
tended over  the  adjoining  interval  land.  With  some  difficulty 
he  succeeded  in  getting  set  across.  He  went  on,  'having  to  wade 


70  MEMOIKOFJOTHAM    SEWALL.         [1800. 

eome,'  but  without  getting  very  wet.  At  sunset,  being  somewhat 
weary,  he  sat  down  on  a  log  in  the  wood.  '  There  (he  says), 
I  called  upon  God ;  praised  his  holy  name  that  he  called  me 
into  being,  —  and  then  called  me  into  his  spiritual  family,  — 
and  then  called  me  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Felt  alto- 
gether unworthy  of  the  high  vocation  of  being  an  ambassa- 
dor of  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Counted  it  an  honor  to  be  called 
to  go  through  difficulties  in  publishing  the  blessed  Gospel  to 
perishing  sinners.  Longed  to  have  the  message  accompanied 
with  power  to  their  hearts.  Begged  of  God  to  give  me  one 
soul  for  laboring  out  hither  ;  but  if  he  saw  fit  to  deny  me  this 
request,  I  should  have  no  reason  to  think  hard  of  my  blessed 
Master,  or  of  his  cause  or  service.  At  a  subsequent  visit  to 
that  place,  he  found  a  person  who  attributed  her  awakening 
and  hopeful  conversion  to  his  labors  at  that  time  ;  though  he 
speaks  of  it  without  any  reference  to  the  above  petition. 
Probably  the  feet  of  making  the  request  had  slipped  from  his 
recollection. 

The  following  is  preserved  on  account  of  the  principle  it 
involves.  The  incident  occurred  in  July  1799.  It  is  devoutly 
to  be  wished,  that  such  thoughts  and  feelings  were  generally  pre- 
valent. A  number  of  men  had  been  at  work  for  him ;  and  quite 
an  amount  of  partly-made  hay  lay  upon  his  field.  He  was  at 
work  among  it.  '  But  (he  says),  before  I  could  get  it  all 
raked,  there  came  a  shower.  Did  not  feel  anxious  about  it. 
Felt  as  if  the  hay  was  not  my  own  ;  but  I  would  endeavor 
to  take  care  of  it  for  my  Great  Landlord.  If  he  pleased  to 
eend  rain  upon  it  and  spoil  it,  he  was  able  to  sustain  the  loss, 
and  would  not  require  it  at  my  hands,  if  I  discharged  my 
duty  in  doing  to  the  best  of  my  strength  and  judgment.  He 
also  could  provide  for  me,  if  needful,  if  the  increase  of  the 
field  should  fail.'  The  figure  is  probably  intended  to  be 
carried  through ;  and  the  idea  is,  that  his  Landlord  would 
feed  his  tenant  from  his  own  house,  if  the  produce  of  the  soil 
he  cultivated,  should  prove  insufficient. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FIRST  MISSION. LABORS  ABOUT  HOME.  —  MISSION  AS   FAK 

EAST  AS  SULLIVAN. 

IN  1801,  being,  as  he  supposes,  recommended  by  some  of 
the  ministers  in  Maine  (then  a  part  of  Massachusetts),  he 
received  a  commission  from  the  Massachusetts  Missionary 
Society  to  labor  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  which  was 
then  an  extremely  destitute  region.  He  was  expected  to  take 
a  tour  as  far  as  to  New  Brunswick,  preaching,  visiting  fami- 
lies, etc. ;  and  doing  what  good  he  could  in  the  places  through 
which  he  passed.  The  position  of  his  domestic  affairs  pre- 
vented him  from  commencing  his  journey  till  the  14th  of 
August. 

The  day  before  he  left  home  he  spent  as  a  day  of  private  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  to  supplicate  Divine  assistance  in  the  work  be- 
fore him,  and  implore  God's  protection  and  blessing  for  his  wife 
and  children  during  his  absence.  '  After  secret  and  family 
worship  in  the  morning  (he  says),  I  retired  to  a  grove  not 
far  from  my  dwelling.  There,  in  meditating  upon  the  reasons 
in  myself  for  fasting  and  praying — my  sinfulness  of  heart 
and  life,  —  I  was  much  affected ;  and  in  spreading  them  before 
God,  and  confessing,  and  imploring  pardon,  and  entreating 
quickening  and  sanctifying  grace  through  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  was  much  moved.  This  was  delightful  work, — 
sweet  employment.  After  a  while,  some  wandering  thoughts 
interrupted  my  satisfaction.  Against  these,  I  cried  to  the 
Lord,  and  he  graciously  interposed,  and  restored  peace  to  my 


72  MEMOIR    OP  [1801. 

soul.  Meditating,  praying,  and  reading  portions  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures,  were  then  sweet.  Endeavored  to  give  up  myself 
soul  and  body,  time  and  talents,  wholly  to  God.  Surrendered 
my  domestic  concerns  into  his  hands,  to  be  managed  and 
overruled  as  he  pleased,  —  begging  that  our  best  good,  and 
his  glory,  might  be  promoted  in  the  end.  Earnestly  besought 
mercy  and  covenant  blessings  on  my  wife  and  children.  Im- 
plored the  blessing  of  God  on  the  Society  which  employed 
me  ;  and  upon  my  fellow-laborer.  [Rev.  Abijah  Wines  had 
an  appointment  from  the  same  Society,  at  the  same  time,  and 
in  the  same  field].  Longed  to  have  the  presence  of  God  go 
with  me,  unworthy  as  I  was,  and  make  me  instrumental  of 
good  to  souls.  Prayed  earnestly  to  be  freed  from  all  selfish 
motives ;  and  that  I  may  aim  at  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
salvation  of  my  fellow-men. 

'  At  four  o'clock,  (he  continues,)  attended  a  meeting  at  my 
house.  The  Lord  assisted  me  to  free  my  soul.  Took  an  af- 
fectionate leave  of  my  brethren  and  sisters,  exhorting  them 
to  persevere  in  the  good  way ;  and  proposed  to  them  to  meet 
me  at  the  throne  of  grace,  in  their  closets,  every  Saturday 
evening  about  sunset,  till  I  returned. 

'  The  next  morning,  when  I  rose,  I  kneeled  down  by  the 
bedside  and  prayed  with  my  wife.  Entreated  that  she  might 
be  enabled  to  trust  in  the  Lord ;  and  that  she  and  the  chil- 
dren (of  whom  we  had'six  living,  the  youngest  but  a  fortnight 
old),  might  be  preserved  and  provided  for  during  my  absence. 
I  think  the  Lord  graciously  met  with  my  soul  in  secret  and 
family  prayer.  Took  an  affectionate  leave  of  my  family. 
Many  tears  were  shed  by  us  all.  My  oldest  son,  particularly, 
(then  thirteen,)  was  much  affected  by  my  admonitions  and 
instructions  respecting  his  behavior.  I  felt  for  his  soul.  Oh, 
that  the  Lord  would  afford  him  saving  grace.  I  lifted  up  my 
heart  to  God  for  him,  on  the  way,  after  I  left.' 

The  day  he  started,  he  fulfilled  an  appointment  for  a  lecture 
in  the  edge  of  Hallowell ;  and  the  day  following,  another  in 


Aug.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  73 

Sidney ;  both  of  which  appear  to  have  been  solemn  seasons. 
Some  of  his  hearers  wept.  Sabbath,  he  preached  twice  in 
Sidney  to  an  attentive  assembly  ;  and  a  third  time,  to  youth 
in  North  Augusta,  some  of  whom  were  affected  to  tears. 
Giving  a  lecture  on  Monday,  in  Vassalborough,  and  another 
on  Tuesday ;  he  proceeded  on  Wednesday  to  Sheepscut  Great 
Pond  settlement,  now  Patricktown. 

'  On  coming  into  this  place,'  (he  says,)  '  I  was  told  that  the 
Lord  was  here  pouring  out  his  Spirit.  Felt  so  unfit  to  preach 
where  God  was  at  work,  and  guide  inquiring  souls,  that  I 
could  not  rejoice  in  it ;  which  gave  me  uneasiness.  The 
hazard  of  injuring,  or  even  destroying,  rather  than  benefiting 
souls,  appeared  to  me  to  be  great.  "  Deliver  me  from  blood- 
guiltiness,  0  God,  thou  God  of  my  salvation  !  " ;  Here  he 
preached  twice.  Both  were  solemn  seasons.  '  Conversed,' 
(he  says,)  '  with  a  number  who  were  anxious.  And,  notwith- 
standing my  fears,  God  enabled  me  to  clear  my  soul.  In 
secret,  I  endeavored  to  commit  them  and  myself,  and  all  that 
concerns  me,  into  the  hands  of  an  all-wise  and  merciful  God. 
Besought  forgiveness  for,  and  deliverance  from,  everything 
which  would  unfit  me  for  rejoicing  when  the  Lord  is  working 
to  save  souls  from  eternal  death !  Oh,  that  I  may  be  ready 
for  every  good  word  and  work  ! ' 

Giving  two  lectures  in  Jefferson,  he  passed  on  to  Waldo- 
boro,  which  he  reached  on  Saturday.  If  his  impressions  were 
correct,  the  following  remarks  will  suggest  to  many  in  that 
place  the  obligations  of  gratitude  and  praise  which  lie  upon 
them  for  what  God  has  since  wrought  in  their  behalf. 

'  Concluded  to  spend  the  Sabbath  here.  At  sunset,  felt 
comforted  with  the  hope  that  my  Chesterville  friends  were 
on  their  knees  with  myself,  praying  for  me.  The  Lord  bless 
them  and  help  them  to  pray ;  for,  from  all  I  can  learn,  I 
shall  have  little,  if  any,  assistance,  by  praying  breath,  from 
those  who  may  attend  on  my  ministry  to-morrow.  Here  is  a 
German  society,  and  church,  and  meeting-house  ;  and  a  min- 
7 


74  MEMOIR     OF  [1801. 

ister  who  preaches  to  them  in  that  language.  In  a  remote 
corner  of  the  town  are  a  few  who  favor  the  Baptists.  Others 
have  procured  and  enjoyed  some  Congregational  preaching 
in  the  court  house ;  but  I  fear  there  is  not  much  vital  piety 
among  them.  I  was  kindly  entertained  by  my  host,  who  was 
a  taverner ;  and  hope  I  was  favored  with  a  spirit  of  prayer 
for  the  people  and  for  myself.  Oh,  to  have  that  compassion 
for  souls  which  becomes  a  minister  of  Christ,  and  to  have 
grace  to  be  faithful !  Oh,  that  God  would  pour  out  his  Spirit, 
and  revive  his  work  here  ! 

'  Sabbath,  23.  Did  not  feel  that  degree  of  engagedness  in 
prayer  this  morning,  which  I  did  last  evening.  Must  I  be 
called  to  speak  God's  word  in  such  a  place  as  this,  and  have 
him  withdraw  and  hide  his  face  from  me  ?  This  will  be  dis- 
tressing. But  he  is  a  sovereign,  and  it  is  my  duty  to  submit, 
whether  he  affords  or  denies  his  presence.  I  went  to  the 
court-house.  Some  rain  was  falling,  and  the  morning  assem- 
bly was  not  full.  More  in  afternoon.  The  season  was  pecu- 
liarly solemn.  I  felt  the  great  truths  I  delivered.  Solemnity 
pervaded  the  assembly,  and  many  were  in  tears.  Pleaded 
importunately  that  God  would  pity  this  place,  and  pour  upon 
it  an  abundant  shower  of  his  Spirit.  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul! 

'  At  my  lodgings  enjoyed  a  sweet  season  in  praying  with 
the  family.  Felt  a  tender  concern  for  the  souls  of  both 
parents  and  children,  all  of  whom  I  fear  are  in  an  uncon- 
verted state.  Oh,  that  God  would  fit  them  for  heaven  and 
glory ! ' 

He  preached  to  a  small  assembly  in  Union  on  Monday ; 
and  again  in  Lincolnville  on  Wednesday.  Of  the  latter  he 
says :  '  Quite  an  assembly,  for  the  place,  collected.  But  it 
pleased  a  sovereign  God  almost  entirely  to  withhold  his  re- 
freshing presence  from  my  soul  during  the  exercises.  Felt 
grieved  for  the  people,  that  they  should  spend  their  time  and 
get  no  good  to  their  souls.  God  can,  indeed,  apply  truth  to 


Aug.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  75 

the  heart  of  a  hearer,  when  the  preacher  does  not  feel  its 
weight  upon  his  own  soul.  At  the  place  where  I  took  dinner, 
found  two  women,  who  had  come  some  distance  to  attend  the 
meeting,  understanding  that  it  was  to  be  in  the  afternoon. 
This,  I  was  told,  was  the  second  time  they  had  been  disap- 
pointed in  the  same  way.  One  of  them  said,  rather  lightly, 
she  believed  she  was  so  wicked  that  it  was  not  for  her  to 
enj»y  meetings.  I  observed  to  her,  that  if  she  was  so  wicked 
that  God  had  given  her  up,  and  would  not  suffer  her  to  be 
favored  with  any  more  means  of  grace,  it  was  a  solemn  con- 
sideration. The  remark  appeared  to  impress  her.  She  wept. 
I  conversed  considerably  upon  serious  subjects  ;  and  then,  as 
they  had  been  disappointed  of  the  meeting,  I  proposed  pray- 
ing with  them.  To  this  the  family  consented.  In  the  ex- 
ercise, I  felt  a  solemn  concern  for  their  souls.' 

At  Northport,  (where  he  found  two  pious  persons,  and 
could  not  learn  that  there  were  any  more  in  the  place,)  he 
gave  a  lecture,  but  was  in  a  dark  and  cold  state  of  mind, 
which  distressed  him  much.  Proceeding  toward  the  next 
town,  Belfast,  he  called  on  a  widow  who  had  recently  lost  a 
child  by  drowning  ;  and,  in  conversing  and  praying  with  her, 
he  enjoyed  a  solemn  season,  and  obtained  relief  to  his  own 
dejected  soul.  A  lively  state  of  religious  affections  is  to  be 
expected  only  in  fidelity  to  duty;  and  if  one  act  does  not  prove 
quickening,  another  may. 

God  frequently  has  important  ends  to  answer  by  events 
which  appear  to  us  the  most  trifling ;  and  what  may  have 
resulted  from  the  following  incident,  a  future  day  will  unfold. 
At  Mount  Ephraim,  in  the  north  part  of  what  is  now  Sears- 
port,  having  occasion  to  call  on  a  blacksmith  for  a  nail  or  two 
in  one  of  his  horse's  shoes,  he  learned  that  the  man  was  sick, 
and  requested  to  see  him.  '  Found  liim,  (he  says,)  <  much 
afraid  of  death  and  its  consequences.  Said  he  was  unpre- 
pared, and  could  not  deceive  God.  Exclaimed, '  Oh  !  eternity ! 
eternity  ! '  etc,  Conrersed  and  prayed  with  him.  It  was  a 


76  MEM  OIK     OF  [1801. 

solemn  scene.  Several  were  present,  who  seemed  much 
affected.'  He  left,  reflecting  on  the  wonderful  orderings  of 
Divine  providence,  and  what  might  be  the  consequences  of 
this  unexpected  interview. 

Calling  at  a  number  of  houses  on  his  way  the  next  day,  he 
entered  into  free  religious  conversation.  An  incident  which 
occurred  shows  the  readiness  with  which  he  exposed  and  un- 
masked the  deceitfulness  of  the  human  heart.  *  One  woman 
told  me,  (he  says,)  that  she  always  loved  God  and  religion, 
and  never  was  so  bad  as  to  hate  good  things.  I  asked  her  if 
she  prayed.  She  said  that  was  best  known  to  herself.  I  told 
her  that  if  she  did  not,  she  did  not  love  God.  If  she  loved 
God,  she  would  love  to  hold  communion  with  him.  Observed 
to  her  that  if  any  of  our  fellow-creatures  should  profess  friend- 
ship to  us,  and  yet  neglect  us  when  we  required  their  atten- 
tion, and  shun  us  instead  of  being  intimate,  we  should  not 
wait  till  they  spit  in  our  faces  to  know  that  they  were 
unfriendly.' 

At  Bucksport,  where  he  spent  the  following  Sabbath,  he 
enjoyed  a  solemn  and  interesting  season.  He  speaks  of  wak- 
ing several  times  the  night  previous,  and  lifting  up  his  heart 
to  God  in  confession  and  supplication.  Once  he  rose  for 
prayer,  longing  for  Divine  assistance  in  the  public  duties  of 
the  approaching  day.  He  preached  in  a  new  school-house, 
there  being  no  meeting-house  in  the  place.  '  In  the  after- 
noon especially,  (he  says,)  souls  appeared  precious.  Long- 
ed for  their  salvation  while  I  addressed  them  and  the  throne 
of  grace  in  their  behalf.  At  the  twilight  season  of  prayer, 
my  whole  soul  went  out  in  spreading  all  my  services  at  God's 
feet,  to  make  such  use  of  them  as  he  pleases.' 

An  event  which  here  occurred  shows  his  care  and  con- 
scientiousness in  regard  to  the  proper  spending  of  holy  tune. 
By  invitation,  he  changed  his  lodgings ;  and  at  the  place  to 
which  he  went,  a  number  of  youth  collected  for  singing,  in 
which,  being  fond  of  music,  he  probably  joined.  But  he  felt 


Sept.]  joxn^MSETVAtL.  77 

tried  respecting  the  propriety  of  practising  psalmody  for  mere 
amusement  on  the  Sabbath.  Before  the  company  dispersed, 
he  proposed  prayer ;  and  *  in  the  duty,  (he  says,)  my  soul 
seemed  to  inelt  for  the  dear  youth.  Longed  that  they  might 
be  kept  from  evil  in  this  and  the  coming  world.  Longed 
that  Christian  parents  here  might  feel  for  their  children  and 
those  under  their  care,  and  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord.  Felt  painful  misgivings,  whether, 
by  changing  my  lodgings,  I  had  not  given  countenance  to  the 
practice  of  visiting  on  Sabbath  evenings  for  other  than  relig- 
ious purposes.  Thought  it  would  have  been  better  for  me  to 
have  declined  the  invitation.  Besought  the  Lord  to  prevent 
any  evil  consequences  which  might  result,  and  make  me  a 
wise,  prudent,  and  su^essful  minister  of  the  Gospel/ 

This  event  troubled  him  much  the  next  day  ;  and  he  found 
no  relief  till  near  night.  By  an  earnest  application  for  pardon 
through  the  Great  Sacrifice,  peace  was  restored  to  his  mind. 

At  Bluehill,  he  pays  a  deserved  compliment  to  Rev.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fisher  for  their  industry,  frugality,  and  content- 
ment ;  and  compares  him,  pursuing  his  noiseless,  prudent, 
useful  course,  with  too  many  who,  on  entering  the  ministry, 
incur  expenses  beyond  their  means,  and  soon  have  to  be  dis- 
missed, to  the  injury  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  if  not  to  their  own 
Christian  characters.  He  speaks  of  Mr.  F.  as  having  enjoyed  a 
powerful  work  of  grace  among  his  people. 

Having  reached  Ellsworth,  he  -rose  early  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, September  2d ;  and,  walking  five  miles  before  break- 
fast and  three  afterwards,  through  a  road  too  bad  probably  to 
be  travelled  comfortably  in  any  other  way,  he  reached  a  des- 
titute neighborhood  on  '  Read's  Brook.'  Here  he  notified  a 
lecture,  preached,  —  and  walked  back  to  his  lodgings  before 
dark. 

The  next  day,  he  gathered  and  preached  to  a  small  assem- 
bly on  Skilling's  Neck,  in  what  is  now  Hancock.  '  It  was  a 
refreshing  season  to  my  own  soul,  (he  says).  Solemnity 


78  MEMOIR    OF  [1801. 

sat  upon  the  countenances  of  the  assembly,  and  several  wept. 
Conversed  with  two  after  meeting  who  appeared  tender.' 

At  Sullivan,  the  day  following,  he  fell  in  with  his  associate 
in  the  mission,  Rev.  Mr.  Wines ;  and  here  too  they  were 
joined  by  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  who  had  received  an  appointment 
for  a  mission  of  five  Sabbaths  from  the  Association  to  which 
he  belonged.  Distributing  themselves  for  the  approaching 
Sabbath,  himself  returned  to  Ellsworth.  Here  he  preached 
in  a  barn  to  a  full  assembly,  notwithstanding  a  fall  of  rain. 
'  The  Lord  graciously  drew  near  my  soul,  (he  says,)  and 
assisted  me  to  speak  his  word  with  clearness  and  solemnity. 
Was  enabled,  I  trust,  to  pray  in  the  Spirit  and  in  faith.  All 
seemed  attentive.  It  was  a  solemn  season,  indeed.  Toward 
the  close,  many  wept.  Oh,  that  the  Lord  may  bless  the  word 
to  souls  !  Feel  willing,  however,  to  leave  this  entirely  with 
Him.  Rode  a  number  of  miles  toward  SuWivan,  and  preached 
in  a  settlement  in  Trenton,  called  Kilkenny.  Enjoyed  a  com- 
fortable season  ;  but  not  as  much  of  the  Divine  presence  as 
in  the  previous  services  of  the  day.  Judea  is  a  hill-country  — 
up  and  down  ;  and  so  it  is  in  the  Christian's  life.'  The  fact 
that  his  hearers  were  so  often  in  tears  is  not  to  be  attributed 
to  any  power  which  he  had  to  move  simply  the  passions  ;  but 
rather  to  the  clearness  and  force  with  which,  while  he  felt 
truth  himself,  he  applied  it  to  the  consciences  of  others.  Of 
this  it  is  thought  the  reader  will  find  various  evidences  before 
the  close  of  the  volume. 

Monday  he  gave  a  lecture  in  Sullivan,  and  one  in  Goulds- 
borough  on  Tuesday,  visiting,  conversing,  and  praying,  with  a 
number  of  families. 

Thursday,  at  Steuben,  he  observed  as  a  day  of  private  fast- 
ing. The  following  things  were  the  subjects  of  prayer  and 

meditation  :  — 

• 

4 1 .  That  my  own  soul  may  be  more  engaged  in  the  great 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  may  deeply  feel  the  great  truths  of 
the  Bible  ;  and  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  enforce  them  upon 


Sept.]  j  o  T  n  A  M  s  E  w  A  L  L.  79 

the  minds  of  others.  Made  a  fresh  surrender  of  myself  to 
God,  with  all  my  powers  and  faculties.  Besought  that  my 
understanding  may  discern  more  and  more  of  the  beauty  and 
consistency  of  Divine  truth,  and  be  led  by  the  Spirit  as  far  as 
God  pleases,  into  its  deep  mysteries ;  that  my  memory  may 
retain  what  I  learn  of  God  and  Divine  things ;  that  I  may 
be  a  scribe,  well  instructed,  bringing  forth  things  new  and 
old ;  that  I  may  forget  everything  unsuitable  to  be  remem- 
bered, and  retain  all  useful  matter ;  that  my  heart,  which  was 
a  fountain  of  unholy  affections,  sending  forth  nothing  but  im- 
pure streams,  till  the  salt  of  special  grace  was  cast  in  by  the 
sovereign  hand  of  God,  and  which  has  since  been  more  or  less 
under  the  polluting  influence  of  wrong  desires  and  unholy 
motives,  may  be  wholly  sanctified,  and  may  flow  out  in  su- 
preme love  to  God,  and  cordial  love  to  all  saints,  and  in 
intense  compassion  for  perishing  sinners ;  that  it  may  be 
divorced  from  worldly  and  wedded  to  heavenly  objects  ;  that 
my  conscience,  which  has  been  too  unfaithful,  may  be  quick- 
ened to  its  office,  and  never  suffer  me  to  be  quiet  in  the  least 
sinful  indulgence ;  that  my  body  may  indeed  be  the  temple 
of  the  living  God ;  that  my  feet  may  walk  in  the  way  of 
Christ's  commands,  find  be  ever  ready  to  go  on  his  errands  ; 
that  my  hands  be  often  stretched  out  in  offering  Christ  to 
sinners,  and  may  be  ready  to  every  good  work ;  that  my 
mouth  may  be  opened  in  Christ's  cause,  my  tongue  be  as  the 
pen  of  a  ready  writer,  and  my  lips  feed  many.  O  Lord, 
accept  the  unreserved  surrender  of  my  whole  self  to  thee. 

'  2.  That  God,  who  has  the  hearts  of  all  in  his  hands,  and 
overrules  all  events,  would  dispose  the  people  to  attend  to  the 
word  preached,  and  open  before  me  wide  and  effectual  doors 
of  opportunity. 

'3.  That  the -Holy  Spirit  may  be  afforded  to  make  the 
word  effectual  to  the  conversion  and  salvation  of  souls ;  that 
the  benevolent  designs  of  the  Missionary  Society  may  not  be 
lost,  and  I  return  empty-handed  and  ashamed,  and  be  a  shame 


80  JOTHAM    SETVALL.  [1801. 

V 

to  those  who  sent  me.  How  easily  can  God  bless  or 
Mast!' 

1  4.  That  my  partner  in  the  mission  may  be  more  and  more 
engaged  and  assisted  ;  and  as  he  has  more  learning  than  my- 
self, that  he  may  have  more  grace,  and  be  more  abundantly 
blessed  with  success. 

'  5.  That  God  would  pour  a  spirit  of  grace  and  supplica- 
tion on  the  Missionary  Society,  that  its  members  may  pray 
for  their  missionaries  ;  that,  as  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  the 
hands  of  Moses,  so  they  may  stay  up  the  hands  of  their  mis- 
sionaries ;  (their  ardent  prayers  I  esteem  more  than  all  their 
funds ; )  and  that  their  prayers  may  return  with  blessings 
upon  their  own  heads  by  revivals  of  religion  in  their  several 
congregations. 

'  6.  That  the  endeavors  of  the  pious  in  Sullivan  for  being 
organized  into  a  church  may  be  succeeded,  that  thereby  the 
cause  of  truth  may  be  promoted  ;  and  as  they  meet  this  after- 
noon to  confer  oa  the  subject,  that  God  may  be  with  them. 

'  7.  That  God  would  preserve  and  provide  for  my  family 
during  my  absence,  and  return  me  in  safety,  carrying  some 
sheaves  with  me.  Felt  very  importunate  for  spiritual  bless- 
ings for  my  wife.  Prayed  for  my  children  separately. 
Thought  of  the  cause  of  religion  in  that  region ;  and  my 
neighbors  were  not  forgotten. 

'  Enjoyed  a  comfortable  season  in  preaching,  at  4  o'clock.' 

Saturday  he  lectured  in  Cherryfield,  where  he  spent  the 
following  day. 

*  Sabbath  13th,'  he  says  :  '  Retired  into  the  forest  for  secret 
devotion,  and  pleaded  with  the  Lord  for  one  soul  in  this  place. 
Preached  in  a  barn  to  a  full  and  attentive  assembly.  Enjoyed 
less  of  Divine  assistance  than  I  wished.  God  is  a  sovereign ; 
and  I  ought  to  be  willing  to  be  as  clay  in  his  hands,  with 
which  he  may  fulfil  his  pleasure.  Rode  to  Columbia,  and 
preached  in  the  evening  to  quite  an  assembly ;  and  God 
graciously  afforded  his  aid,  both  in  preaching  and  prayer. 


Sept.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  81 

A  solemn  season.  Thanksgiving  and  praise  to  my  Good 
Master. ' 

At  East  Machias  on  Tuesday,  meeting  Messrs.  Wines  and 
Fisher,  they  proceeded  to  Dennysville,  passing  through  more 
than  twenty  miles  of  unbroken  forest.  The  road  of  course 
was  bad,  and  the  travelling  slow ;  and  before  completing 
the  distance,  he  felt  faint  and  weary,  and  'longed  for  at 
least  one  soul,  east  of  the  wood,  who  should  bless  God  that ' 
he  '  labored  through.'  At  Pembroke,  the  next  day,  where 
his  associates  left  him  for  Robbinston,  he  preached  to  a  small 
assembly,  some  of  whom  gave  practical  evidence  that  they 
felt  the  truths  dispensed.  '  Previous  to  the  meeting,  (he  says), 
had  a  longing  desire,  that,  as  Satan  had  often  harassed  me 
with  his  temptations,  and  sometimes  overcome,  God  would 
enable  me  to  discomfit  him,  and  make  inroads  upon  his 
kingdom.' 

From  a  point  about  three  miles  south  of  Pembroke,  he  was 
set  on  to  Moose  Island,  (now  Eastport),  a  distance  of  five 
miles,  in  a  birch-canoe.  Here  he  found  most  of  the  pro- 
fessors Calvinist  Baptists.  Some  five  or  six  years  previous, 
a  revival  had  existed  under  the  labors  of  a  Mr.  Murphy,  in 
consequence  of  which  a  church  of  that  order  had  been  formed. 
He  speaks  of  them  as  having  been  very  much  prejudiced 
against  the  '  standing  orders,'  (as  they  styled  Congrcgation- 
alists,)  but  a  little  softened  in  their  feelings.  Some,  with  whom 
he  conversed,  were  unwilling  to  believe  that  God  could  own 
infant  baptism  by  affording  his  special  presence  when  it  was 
administered.  He  felt  constrained  to  testify,  he  says,  that,  to 
his  certain  knowledge,  if  he  knew  anything  about  experimental 
religion,  God  does  thus  own  it. 

The  following  Sabbath  he  preached  in  the  Baptist  meeting- 
house ;  and  we  here  see  how  he  was  received,  notwithstand- 
ing existing  prejudices.  As  usual,  he  earnestly  sought  in 
secret  Divine  assistance  in  the  public  duties  of  the  day.  A 
large  assembly  collected.  And  (he  says), '  felt  the  weight  of 


82  MEMOIR  OF  [1801. 

the  truths  I  dispensed,  and  was  much  drawn  out  in  prayer. 
Many  countenances  were  solemn,  and  many  eyes  tearful.' 
Unexpectedly,  a  collection  was  taken  up  for  him,  which  he 
afterwards  found  to  be  quite  generous.  In  the  evening  he 
preached  again,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Island.  Of  this,  he 
says,  '  It  was  truly  a  refreshing  season.  The  Lord  seemed 
to  be  in  the  midst  of  us  in  very  deed.  My  heart  seemed  to 
melt  and  dissolve  in  me  in  love  to  God  and  his  people.'  Such 
a  day  called  forth  devout  acknowledgments  to  God  in  his 
evening  retirement.  Of  this  he  says,  '  My  heart  overflowed 
with  gratitude  to  God  for  his  goodness  towards  me.  Besought 
him  to  keep  me  from  spiritual  pride.  Oh,  how  often  has  this 
enemy  of  my  peace  spoiled  all  my  spiritual  enjoyment,  and 
robbed  God  of  his  due.  Oh,  to  abound  in  humility  and 
watchfulness,  in  prayerfulness  and  diligence!' 

He  had  reached  the  extremity  of  the  State,  and  now  com- 
menced his  return.  On  Monday  he  enjoyed  great  tenderness 
and  freedom,  in  speaking  and  prayer,  at  a  lecture,  from  Gen. 
24 :  49,  "Now  if  ye  will  deal  kindly  and  truly  with  my  mas- 
ter, tell  me,"  etc.  Many  were  affected.  In  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  he  preached  at  Dennysville,  from  Ileb.  2  :  3, 
"  How  shall  we  escape,"  etc.,  where  also  some  were  in  tears. 

On  Wednesday,  at  Chandlersville,  (now  Jonesborough),  he 
gave  a  lecture  in  the  forenoon,  and  says,  '  Felt  much  for  my 
hearers.  Could  not  learn  that  there  was  a  Christian  in  the 
place.  God  may  have  a  Lot  or  two  in  some  corner.'  In  the 
afternoon  he  preached  at  Columbia ;  and  in  the  evening  again, 
at  Addison.  Here  we  have  an  instance  of  the  manner  in 
which  his  mind  seized  on  and  improved  trivial  circumstances. 
*  Entering  the  meeting-house  (he  says),  while  only  lighted 
with  one  or  two  candles,  the  dimness  impressed  me  solemnly  ; 
and  in  the  first  prayer  felt  uncommon  enlargement  for  the 
church  generally.  Grasped  the  whole  in  the  arms  of  love 
and  faith,  and  rejoiced  in  looking  forward  to  the  time  when 
her  breaches  and  divisions  shall  be  healed,  [he  was  among 


JOTUAMSEWALL.  S3 

Christians  of  another  order],  and  her  dimness  removed,  and 
she  should  shine  forth  in  united  glory,  "  her  light  being  come, 
and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  being  risen  upon  her.'"  One  ac- 
quainted with  him,  and  his  fervency  and  power  in  prayer, 
and  only  such  a  one,  can  figure  to  himself  the  interest  of  this 
scene.  He  then  preached  from  Psalin  137 :  1,  2,  "  If  I  forget 
thee,  O  Jerusalem,"  etc.,  and  adds,  '  Scarcely  ever  enjoyed 
such  freedom  and  engagedness.  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.' 

At  Gouldsborough,  the  next  day,  where  he  preached  from 
the  text,  "  Escape  for  thy  life,"  he  prayed  between  the  body 
of  the  sermon  and  the  application.  Such  peculiarities  are 
found  in  a  few  instances.  But  they  arose  spontaneously  from 
the  solemnity  and  earnestness  of  his  own  mind,  and  were 
never  introduced  for  effect.  His  hearers  appear  to  have  felt 
too. 

On  Saturday,  the  26th,  himself  and  Mr.  Wines  embodied 
a  church  of  four  males  and  three  females  at  Sullivan.  He 
tarried  and  preached  the  next  day,  in  which  he  enjoyed  '  pe- 
culiar solemnity,'  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper.  The 
ordinance,  he  says,  was  never  before  administered  in  the  place. 
Before  leaving,  he  received  another  member  to  the  church. 

A  day  or  two  after  this,  we  find  him  improving  the  time, 
while  passing  through  a  wood,  in  prayer, — beseeching  the 
Lord  to  give  him  assistance  in  dispensing  his  word ;  telling 
him  that  his  time  was  spending  every  day,  —  hours  and  mo- 
ments were  hurrying  by,  —  and  entreating  him  that  it  might 
not  be  spent  in  vain,  and  by  and  by  his  glass  be  run,  and 
nothing  done  for  God. 

The  following  Sabbath  (October  4th),  he  spent  on  the 
island  of  Mount  Desert.  Here  an  unhappy  event  shows  his 
sacred  regard  for  everything  which  pertains  to  God  and  re- 
ligion. He  was  baptizing  a  child.  Immediately  on  pro- 
nouncing the  name  of  the  Trinity,  he  was  told  that  he  had 
mistaken  its  name.  In  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  instead 
of  correcting  the  error,  he  applied  water  again,  repeating  the 


84  MEMOIR    OF  [1801. 

formula,  —  thus,  in  effect,  re-baptizing.  '  The  thought  of  hav- 
ing so  done,  (he  says),  depi-ived  my  mind  of  all  peace  during 
the  remainder  of  the  evening.  Was  not  relieved  till  I  spread 
the  matter  before  God  the  next  morning,  and  entreated  him 
to  sanctify  the  trial  for  my  good.'  Of  a  lecture  in  another 
neighborhood  on  the  island,  he  says, '  My  soul  was  melted  with 
love  to  God  and  to  souls ;  and  a  number  of  the  hearers  ap- 
peared to  feel  the  same.  The  chords  of  affection  which  seemed 
to  bind  me  to  God's  people,  made  it  hard  tearing  away,  while 
they  with  tears  inquired,  why  I  could  not  stay  longer.' 

During  the  week,  as  he  passed  along,  he  lectured  every 
day.  Saturday  found  him  at  Frankfort,  where  he  spent  the 
Sabbath.  For  a  third  service,  he  crossed  the  Penobscot  to 
the  upper  part  of  Bucksport.  His  subject  was  Prayer. 
'  Many,  (he  says,)  were  in  tears.  One  person  went  weeping 
along  the  road  after  meeting.  He  said  that  the  preaching 
was  all  against  him ;  but  he  hoped  he  should  do  better  in 
future.  He  had  once  indulged  hope  of  being  a  Christian.  I 
told  him  he  must  be  careful  of  resolving  in  his  own  strength. 
Peter  thought  he  would  die  with  Christ  rather  than  deny 
him  ;  but  he  found  he  could  do  nothing  when  Christ  left  him 
to  himself.' 

Thursday  the  loth  found  him  back  at  Penobscot  attending 
an  Ecclesiastical  Council  for  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Powers.  With  deep  reluctance,  his  dismission  was  advised. 
In  view  of  it  he  says, '  Felt  burdened  and  distressed  at  the 
thought  of  the  bereavement  to  be  experienced  by  this  church 
and  people,  in  their  weak  and  divided  state.  Felt,  I  trust, 
the  exercise  of  faith  that  God  will  take  care  of  his  sinking 
cause  here.'  The  day  after,  at  the  request  of  his  dismissed 
brother,  he  stopped  and  preached  a  lecture.  He  spoke  from 
the  words,  "  Thy  will  be  done."  The  nature  and  duty  of  un- 
reserved submission,  and  the  consistency  of  this  with  the  use 
of  means  to  remove  an  evil,  were  the  thoughts  on  which  he 


Oct.J  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  85 

dwelt.  He  was  much  melted  himself;  and  the  chords  of 
sympathy  vibrated  sensibly  in  the  breasts  of  his  hearers. 

The  following  Sabbath  he  spent  opposite  to  Bangor,  in 
what  is  now  Brewer.  He  passed  down  the  Penobscot  to  Ham- 
den,  and  preached  lectures  and  made  calls  on  his  way  home- 
ward. On  the  road  he  called  on  a  Christian  friend  with 
whom  he  had  had  some  previous  acquaintance,  who  said  that 
he  was  "  like  a  pelican  in  the  wilderness ; "  not  a  professed 
Christian  within  four  or  five  miles  of  him  ;  all  irreligious  and 
profane.*  At  another  place,  he  says, '  Conversing  with  two 
men  for  whose  souls  I  felt  a  tender  and  solemn  concern,  over- 
heard one  of  them,  as  he  left  the  house,  say  he  believed  we 

were  d d  religious.  Thought  that  I  had  much  rather 

bear  the  reproach  of  such  a  reflection  than  to  hear  it  said  — 
I  don't  see  as  these  ministers  talk  any  more  about  religion 
than  other  folks,  and  are  as  full  of  the  world.' 

He  reached  home,  with  a  heart  full  of  gratitude  to  God  for 
his  goodness,  October  23d,  having  been  absent  ten  weeks. 

In  Wilton  and  Farmington  some  appearances  of  an  ap- 
proaching shower  of  mercy  now  existed.  In  the  former  place 
he  preached  the  next  Sabbath ;  and  of  the  afternoon  service  he 
says, '  The  Lord  in  very  deed  helped  me  to  pray  and  preach. 
The  word  appeared  to  fall  with  power  upon  the  hearers.' 
The  next  day  he  lectured  in  Farmington  from  the  words, 
"  Oh,  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  !  "  He  enjoyed 
uncommon  freedom,  solemnity,  and  engagedness ;  and  the 
assembly  was  much  impressed.  His  hopes  of  an  out-pouring 
of  the  Spirit  and  the  conversion  of  sinners  were  much  raised. 

After  a  lecture  at  Vienna  the  next  day,  which  had  been  a 
comfortable  season  to  himself,  he  was  attacked  on  some  things 
he  had  advanced.  The  assailant  affirmed  that  the  terrors  of 
hell  are  the  beginning  of  the  new  birth  ;  for  such,  in  dread- 
ing punishment,  were  afraid  of  God ;  and  "  the  fear  of  the 

*  We  shall  hear  from  this  place  again.  This  was  a  new  region. 
Settlements  had  commenced  only  a  few  years  in  this  town  (Albion). 

8 


86  MEMOIR    OF  [1801. 

Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom."  He  replied,  if  such  fear 
is  wisdom,  the  devils  have  it ;  for  they  fear  and  tremble.' 
His  opponent  answered, *  They  have  ;  for  the  devils  are  wiser 
than  any  of  us.'  He  rejoined,  '  Then  the  devil  has  the  begin- 
ning of  the  new  birth,  —  the  new  birth  begins  in  hell ! '  No 
veply  was  made  ;  and  he  proceeded  to  explain  the  difference 
bt>rv~°en  slavish  and  filial  fear. 

A  difficulty  had  arisen  in  the  church  at  Canaan,  now  Bloom- 
field.  An  impression  existed  that  a  portion  of  its  members 
were  professors  only ;  and  others  would  not  join.  On  the 
30th  of  October,  himself  and  Mr.  Wines  attended  to  an  ap- 
pointment to  advise  with  them  in  the  case.  The  persons  con- 
cerned first  held  a  meeting  by  themselves,  and  agreed  to 
renew  their  covenant.  A  council  was  to  be  called,  a  reorgan- 
ization to  take  place,  and  such  only  were  to  be  admitted  as 
gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  piety.  This  appears  to  have 
been  attended  to  on  the  18th  and  19th  of  the  following  month. 
An  Ecclesiastical  council  was  convened  ;  fifteen  persons  were 
examined,  six  of  whom  belonged  to  the  existing  church  ;  and 
out  of  these,  eleven  were  accepted.  Leaving  before  the  busi- 
ness was  closed,  he  does  not  state  whether  the  reorganization 
took  place ;  but  doubtless  it  did. 

The  2d  of  November,  according  to  an  agreement  with  Mr. 
Wines,  he  observed  as  a  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer. 
The  following  were  the  themes  of  supplication :  — 

'  1.  That  we  may  be  humble  for  all  which  has  been  amiss, 
and  which  may  hinder  God's  working  by  us. 

'  2.  That  we  may  be  favored  with  greater  measures  of 
sanctification,  and  made  more  fit  for  our  Master's  use. 

1  3.  That  God  would  bless  our  labors  past,  and  especially 
those  to  come. 

'  4.  That  the  Lord  would  bless  other  missionaries  who  may 
be  employed  by  the  same  Society,  and  those  who  are  em- 
ployed by  other  societies  through  the  world. 

'  5.  That  the  Society  which  sent  us  forth  may  be  guided 


Nov.]  J  O  T  II  A  M  '  S  E  VT  A  T.  L  .  87 

and  blessed  in  all  their  efforts,  employing  only  suitable  men, 
and  abounding  in  prayer  for  their  success. 

'  6.  That  the  movement  toward  an  Evangelical  church  in 
Bloomfield  may  be  prospered,  and  followed  with  the  blessing 
of  a  faithful  pastor  and  a  reformation  among  the  people.* 

'  7.  That  the  hopeful  appearances  in  Farmington  and 
vicinity  may  be  followed  by  a  general  and  glorious  revival, 
free  from  corrupt  mixtures. 

•  '  8.  That  our  families  may  be  favored  with  temporal,  but 
especially  with  spiritual  blessings,  and  religion  prosper  in  the 
churches  with  which  we  are  connected. 

'  9.  That  the  cause  of  true  religion  may  be  advanced  in  the 
land  and  through  the  world. 

'  Felt  my  mind  much  drawn  out  in  spreading  these  things 
before  the  Lord,  (he  adds,)  especially  the  6th  and  7th  parti- 
culars. Pleaded  with  God  for  Farmington,  even  to  an  agony, 
till  my  strength  seemed  almost  spent.  Read  many  portions 
of  Scripture  with  application  and  satisfaction.  Read  the 
whole  of  Solomon's  Song,  and  prayed  over  every  verse.  It 
is  a  sweet  book,  when  the  heart  is  in  a  suitable  frame.' 

The  following  conversations,  which  occurred  near  to  each 
other,  show  the  clearness  of  his  own  conceptions,  and  the 
readiness  he  possessed  in  making  plain  to  others  what  was 
plain  to  himself. 

1  Called  on  a  family  the  parents  of  which  had  been  under 
some  awakenings.  Remarked  on  the  preciousness  of  the  soul, 
and  the  necessity  of  repentance,  love  to  God,  and  faith  in 
Christ.  The  man  inquired,  '  How  shall  I  get  this  love  ? '  I 
replied,  '  Not  by  continuing  in  disobedience  ;  it  is  exercised 
in  repentance  and  faith.'  '  But  are  not  repentance  and  faith 
the  gifts  of  God  ? '  '  They  are.'  '  How  then  am  I  to  blame 
for  not  exercising  them,  when  God  does  not  give  them  ? ' 
'  For  voluntarily  exercising  the  opposite  sinful  feelings.  Sup- 
pose you  had  a  child  who  was  unwilling  to  do  what  you  re- 

*  The  reader  will  observe  that  this  was  before  the  Council  met. 


88  MEMOIR    OP  [1801. 

quired,  would  he  not  be  culpable  ? '  '  Yes :  but  I  have  not 
the  power  to  change  the  will  of  my  child.'  <  True  :  but  sup- 
pose you  had,  would  not  the  child  be  blamable  for  all  the 
stubbornness  he  exercised  before  you  turned  his  will  ? ' 
'  Yes.'  '  Then  all  the  unrenewed  are  criminal  for  all  their 
opposition  to  God  and  holiness  before  he  changes  their  hearts.' 
'  But  God  does  not  change  the  hearts  of  all.'  '  True :  but  if 
all  those  who  are  renewed  are  criminal  for  their  opposition  to 
God  till  they  are  renewed,  then  all  who  are  never  renewed 
will  be  altogether  and  forever  to  blame  for  their  opposition  to 
holiness ;  and  it  will  be  righteous  in  God  to  send  them  to 
perdition.'  He  was  silent.  I  proceeded  to  remark-  on  the 
guilt,  folly,  and  danger  of  sinners  in  neglecting  the  great  sal- 
vation, and  ruining  their  own  souls.  Observed  that  I  feared 
their  state  was  bad ;  and  unless  the  Lord  showed  them  more 
mercy  than  they  were  disposed  to  show  to  their  own  souls, 
they  would  never  be  saved.  They  wept.  In  praying  with 
them,  my  soul  seemed  to  melt  within  me  in  tender  concern 
for  the  conversion  and  salvation  of  them  and  their  children. 
Oh,  how  lamentable  to  see  whole  families  excusing  themselves 
from  heaven  and  happiness,  and  virtually  asking  the  privilege 
of  going  quietly  to  perdition  ! ' 

'  Conversed  with  a  man  who  had  difficulties  with  the  doc- 
trines of  election  and  special  grace.  Asked  him  how  he  would 
like  to  have  the  terms  of  salvation  stand.  Whether  it  would 
not  be  thus  :  Salvation  provided,  and  freely  offered  ;  and  men 
left  to  choose  or  refuse,  just  as  they  please  ?  He  answered, 
Yes.  I  replied,  that  such  are  the  facts  in  relation  to  all  who 
perish  from  under  the  light  of  the  Gospel.  Salvation  is  pro- 
vided, and  offered,  and  they  refuse  ;  and  if  God  had  done  no 
more,  all  would  inevitably  perish,  since  all  refuse.  Now,  God 
has  done  all  you  wish  for,  and  unspeakably  more.  He  has 
made  the  salvation  of  a  vast  multitude  certain.  By  special 
grace,  he  removes  the  obstinacy  of  their  hearts,  so  that  they 
choose  life  and  go  to  heaven  ;  and  can  you,  dear  sir,  find  fault 


NOV.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  89 

with  God  because  he  does  so  much  better  with  mankind  than 
you  even  wish  him  to  do  ?  —  Here  the  conversation  ended. 

'  Had  some  talk  with  a  Universalist  who  believed  in  limited 
future  punishment.  I  asked  him  if  sinners  will  be  punished 
as  much  as  the  law  requires.  He  replied  that  they  will.  Then, 
said  I,  the  law  will  clear  them ;  they  will  not  need  forgive- 
ness ;  and  when  they  get  to  heaven,  they  will  not  have  to 
ascribe  their  salvation  to  having  their  robes  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  but  in  hell-fire.  They  will  reach  heaven 
through  some  other  name  than  that  of  Jesus.  He  then  said 
that  the  punishments  they  were  to  endure  were  to  bring  them 
to  repentance.  I  replied,  Then  hell  is  a  state  of  trial  as  well 
as  this,  and  all  the  threatenings  of  wrath  amount  to  promises 
of  giving  superior  means  of  grace  to  the  impenitent.  And  sup- 
pose they  should  not  be  brought  to  repentance  by  that  state 
of  trial,  must  they  go  to  another,  or  receive  final  sentence  ? 
If  they  go  to  another,  since  the  first  punishment  did  not 
reform  them,  the  second  may  not,  and  so  on  forever ;  and 
what  is  the  difference  between  remaining  always  in  such  a 
state  of  trial  and  being  forever  damned  ? ' 

The  month  of  November  he  spent  in  New  Sharon,  New 
Vineyard,  New  Portland,  Industry,  Anson,  and  Solon  ;  con- 
stantly journeying,  lecturing,  visiting,  and  conversing.  In 
one  of  these  visits  he  found  a  young  woman,  giving  encourag- 
ing evidence  of  piety,  who  was  awakened  by  hearing  him  in 
Norridgewock  the  June  previous ;  and  in  another  he  found  a 
youthful  pious  mother,  who  had  recently  buried  her  only 
child,  and  who  attributed  her  awakening  to  a  sermon  he 
preached  in  Farmington  more  than  two  years  before.  He 
Avas  thus  cheered  by  some  evidence  of  success  in  his  labors. 

One  event  shows  with  what  care  he  looked  after  the  scat- 
tered sheep  of  Christ's  fold.  He  had  spent  the  Sabbath  in 
the  upper  part  of  Solon,  preaching  as  usual  three  times. 
Soon  after  day-light  on  Monday  morning,  he  left  his  lodgings 
and  walked  up  the  river  about  three  miles,  to  a  Mr.  Baker's, 
8* 


90  MEMOIR    OF  [1801. 

who  was  mostly  confined  by  lameness  and  infirmity,  and  who 
with  his  wife  and  some  of  their  children,  were  Methodist  pro- 
fessors. He  conversed  and  prayed  with  them,  and  returned 
to  fulfil  other  engagements. 

"While  thus  away,  he  learned  that  the  awakening  in  Wilton 
had  spread  to  all  parts  of  the  town.  His  desire  for  the  purity 
and  genuineness  of  the  work  led  him  to  rise  before  day,  and 
retire  to  beseech  God  that  he  would  '  preserve  his  people 
there  from  extravagancies  and  irregularities.' 

The  following  illustrates  the  trials  which  faithful  mission- 
aries have  sometimes  to  encounter.  At  a  lecture  in , 

from  Prov.  1 :  24-26,  "  Because  I  have  called,"  etc.,  some  of 
his  hearers  were  disturbed  by  some  remarks  on  the  necessity 
of  special  grace  and  kindred  topics,  grounded  on  the  words, 
"  no  man  regarded."  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  they  gathered 
around  him,  saying  many  things,  and  asking  many  questions. 
He  replied,  endeavoring  to  place  the  matter  in  a  light  clearly 
to  be  seen  and  easily  to  be  understood.  But  all  did  not  satis- 
fy. One  man  said  that  if  God  had  provided  salvation  for  all, 
and  offered  it  to  them,  and  decreed  that  they  should  not  have 
it,  and  would  not  give  them  a  disposition  to  accept,  he  was 
worse  than  the  devil,  and  did  but  mock  his  poor  creatures ! 
He  cautioned  them  to  beware  that  they  did  not  blaspheme ; 
and  told  them  that  they  understood  the  matter  wrong  from 
beginning  to  end.  '  Felt  calm,  (he  says,)  in  conversing  ;  but 
was  grieved  for  their  ignorance,  and  (as  I  thought)  obstinacy. 
Felt  uncomfortable  in  mind  afterwards ;  but,  carrying  the 
matter  to  God,  obtained  relief.  Believe  it  my  duty  to  bring 
out  the  truth  according  to  God's  word,  with  solemnity  and 
meekness  ;  and  let  him  make  what  use  of  it  he  pleases.' 

Near  the  beginning  of  December,  his  various  labors  and 
exposures  li&ought  upon  him  an  oppressive  hoarseness  and 
asthmatic  symptoms,  which  laid  him  by  for  about  three  weeks. 
But  if  he  could  not  do  one  thing  in  his  Master's  service,  he 
must  do  another.  The  first  Sabbath  of  his  confinement,  he 


Dec.]  JOT  HAM    SEW  ALL.  91 

read  a  sermon  to  his  family,  praying  before  and  after,  and 
talking  some.  On  this  day  he  says,  '  I  can  scarcely  recollect 
when  I  have  staid  from  meeting  on  the  Sabbath  before.'  The 
next  Sabbath,  after  his  family  had  gone  to  a  meeting  in  the 
neighborhood,  he  retired  to  his  chamber,  and  poured  out  his 
soul  to  God  for  those  who  were  attending  public  worship,  and 
for  those  who  were  disappointed  where  he  expected  to  have 
been.  He  retired  a  number  of  times  for  prayer  during  the 
day.  In  the  evening,  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  his  house, 
in  which  on  account  of  his  indisposition  he  had  intended  to 
take  no  part.  But  his  feelings  for  the  unconverted  were  such 
that  he  could  not  refrain  from  speaking.  He  exhorted  them 
as  from  the  brink  of  the  grave  ;  and  a  number  were  deeply 
affected.  In  family-prayer,  he  felt  admitted  to  an  uncommon 
nearness  to  God.  And  so  delightful  was  the  interview  that 
he  felt  willing,  or  rather  desirous,  to  depart  and  be  with  the 
Lord.  The  third  Sabbath,  the  neighbors  collected  at  his 
house  for  a  society-meeting ;  and  he  felt  it  sweet  to  join  in 
the  worship  of  God.  In  the  afternoon  he  says,  *  I  could  not 
avoid  praying  once.  And  a  sweet,  solemn  time  it  was.  My 
heart  was  full  to  overflowing  for  saints  and  sinners.'  An 
evening  prayer-meeting  was  also  held  at  his  house.  Of  this 
he  says,  '  Eternal  things  appeared  so  real  to  my  mind,  that  I 
could  not  well  forbear  taking  a  part.  I  talked  and  prayed ; 
and  truly  the  Lord  drew  near  to  my  soul  in  these  duties. 
Who  could  forbear,  when  souls  are  perishing  ?  I  was  ready 
to  conclude,  that  speaking  for  God  would  be  a  good  employ- 
ment in  which  to  die.  Family  and  secret  prayer,  both 
morning  and  evening,  were  sweet  and  delightful.  'Oh,  how 
satisfying,  (he  adds,)  is  the  spiritual  presence  of  God !  And 
if  so  comfortable  here,  what  must  it  be  hereafter  to  all 
eternity ! ' 

During  this  confinement,  he  made  out  the  report  of  his 
mission  for  fifteen  weeks.  On  examination,  he  found  that 
during  one  hundred  and  fifteen  days,  embraced  in  his  return, 


92  MEMOIR    OF  [1802. 

he  had  (  preached  one  hundred  and  sixteen  times,  attended  five 
conferences,  four  prayer-meetings,  and  two  councils  ;  assisted 
in  gathering  two  churches  ;  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
three  times ;  baptized  two  adults,  and  tliirteen  children ; 
visited  many  families  ;  and  observed  two  days  of  private  fast- 
ing and  prayer.'  It  appears  by  no  means  strange  that,  after 
such  an  amount  and  variety  of  labor  crowded  into  a  space  so 
brief,  and  the  encountering  of  various  exposures,  (for  no 
weather  stopped  him,)  sickness  was  the  result.  And  yet,  as 
we  proceed,  we  shall  find  this  a  pretty  fair  specimen  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  many  years. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  month,  he  so  far  recovered  as  to 
venture  to  preach  on  the  last  Sabbath.  The  meeting  was  at 
a  neighbor's;  and  he  spoke  from  Psalm  118:17,  "I  shall 
not  die,  but  live,  and  declare  the  works  of  the  Lord." 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1802,  he  received  an  appointment 
from  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society  for  a  winter  mis- 
sion. But  on  this  he  was  not  quite  ready  to  enter.  He  did 
not,  however,  remit  his  diligence  in  his  Master's  cause.  Re- 
suming his  labors  at  the  time  just  specified,  he  preached  on 
the  Sabbath,  lectured,  attended  prayer-meetings,  and  visited, 
in  the  town  and  vicinity,  much  as  before. 

On  the  twenty-first  day  of  January  he  attended  a  meeting 
in  the  north  part  of  Industry  for  the  organization  of  a  church 
in  that  town  and  New  Vineyard.  In  this  he  was  assisted  by 
his  brother-in-law,  Samuel  Sewall,*  who  was  licensed  to 
preach  when  he  was  ordained.  A  church  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  eight  members.  Here  he  had  the  .pleasure  of  bap- 
tizing and  receiving  to  the  household  of  faith  one  who  was 
awakened  under  his  ministry  about  a  year  previous.  A  few 

*  Mr.  Greenleaf,  in  his  '  Ecclesiastical  Sketches,'  soys  that  he  was 
assisted  by  Mr.  Samuel  Sewall,  n  licentiate,  —  afterwards  settled  in 
Simmer.  This  is  &  mistake.  The  person  who  assisted  him  was  after- 
wards settled  in  Edgecomb.  The  two  Samuels  were  cousins.  The 
former  here  named  was  not  licensed  till  some  vears  after  this. 


Jan.]  JOTHAM  SEWALL.  93 

days  after  this,  on  a  visit  to  Vassalborough,  he  found  a  man 
giving  evidence  of  piety  who  was  awakened  by  his  preaching 
there  the  June  previous ;  and  he  records  a  deep  sense  of  his 
unworthiness  to  be  the  instrument  of  good  to  souls,  and 
ascribes  all  the  glory  to  God. 

Of  a  lecture  in  North  Augusta,  at  this  time,  he  says, '  I  felt 
much  moved  and  solemnized  in  prayer  and  in  speaking.  My 
whole  soul  flowed  out  after  God  in  behalf  of  poor  sinners, 
and  also  toward  them  in  addressing  them.  Cannot  but  hope 
that  some  good  will  follow  this  evening's  opportunity.  I  tar- 
ried in  the  school-house  till  the  "people  had  withdrawn,  and 
there  poured  out  my  soul  to  God  in  thanksgiving  for  the  as- 
sistance afforded,  and  in  ardent  supplications  that  a  blessing 
may  follow,  and  for  assistance  in  time  to  come.'  His  own  ab- 
sent family  were  remembered  ;  and  he  felt  much  for  the  chil- 
dren of  the  family  where  he  passed  the  night. 

Sabbath,  January  31st,  he  spent  at  Augusta;  and  feeling 
rather  dull,  he  feared  that  he  was  about  to  be  deserted  in  the 
duties  of  the  day.  He  went  to  the  place  of  worship,  (the 
court-house,)  trembling,  lest  the  Lord  should  withdraw,  and 
leave  him  to  serve  alone ;  but  his  fears  were  dispelled,  and 
he  was  enabled  to  speak  with  freedom,  and  enjoyed  enlarge- 
ment and  solemnity  in  prayer.  In  the  afternoon  the  assembly 
was  large,  and  the  Lord  gave  him  increasing  strength.  All 
were  attentive  and  solemn,  and  some  were  much  affected. 
Going  to  an  appointment  for  a  lecture  in  the  evening  at  North 
Augusta,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  school-house  so  crowded 
that  he  could  scarcely  enter.  Speaks  of  it  as  a  solemn 
season.  On  his  way  home,  Monday,  February  1st,  he  preached 
again.  The  next  morning  he  speaks  of  having  awaked  in 
the  night  under  an  overwhelming  sense  of  his  sinfulness,  and 
of  having  risen  and  retired,  and  with  tears  and  sobs  poured 
out  his  confessions  to  God,  and  entreated  forgiveness  through 
Christ.  '  If  the  mercy  of  God  (he  remarks),  and  the  merits 
of  Christ  were  not  infinite,  I  should  have  no  hope.  In  morn- 


§1 

94  MEMOIROF  [1802. 

ing  devotions  had  similar  feelings.  Ingenuous  penitence  is  a 
bitter-sweet,  —  bitter,  as  it  relates  to  the  criminal  occasion  ; 
and  sweet,  as  it  is  suitable  in  itself,  and  as  it  relates  to  the  in- 
finite ocean  of  God's  mercy  in  Christ ! ' 

The  mission  for  which  he  had  received  an  appointment 
was  performed  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence.  He  com- 
menced it  on  the  4th  of  February ;  and  it  appears  to  have 
continued  to  the  latter  part  of  May.  We  give  a  sketch  of 
about  a  week  at  its  commencement  as  a  specimen  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  fulfilled. 

'  Saturday,  6th.  Went  to  N.  Sharon,  and  attended  a  prayer- 
meeting  in  the  evening.  Some  special  religious  interest  ex- 
ists in  different  neighborhoods  in  this  town. 

'  Sabbath,  7th.  Preached  in  the  forenoon  from  Luke  1 6  : 
31,  "  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,"  etc. ;  and  in 
the  afternoon,  from  Mark  5:26,"  And  was  nothing  bettered, 
but  rather  grew  worse."  Preached  in  the  evening  from  Amos 
4:  12,  "Prepare  to  meet  thy  God."  Possessed  a  state  of 
mind  somewhat  suited  to  the  solemnity  of  the  subject.  Some 
solemnity  in  the  assembly.  Oh,  that  good  may  be  done,  and 
God  have  the  glory.' 

'  Monday,  8th.  Visited  five  families  and  a  school,  and 
preached  in  the  evening.  Blessed  be  God  for  opportunities 
of  trying  to  do  good. 

'  Tuesday,  9th.  Preached  in  the  evening  from  Rev.  3  :  20, 
"  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock."  Numbers  appeared 
impressed  under  the  word. 

'  Wednesday,  10th.  Went  to  Industry.  Preached  in  fhe 
afternoon  from  Prov.  8:36,  "All  they  that  hate  jne,  love 
death."  Attended  a  conference  meeting  in  the  evening.  A 
young  man  was  present  who  was  awakened  by  hearing  me 
speak  from  the  words,  "  My  spirit  shall  not  always  strive  with 
man,"  more  than  a  year  since ;  and  who  gives  some  evidence 
of  piety. 

'Thursday,  llth.     Went  to  the  north  part  of  the  town, 


Feb.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  95 

and  preached  from  Hos.  13:8,  "Oh  Israel,  thou  hast  de- 
stroyed thyself,"  etc. 

'Friday,  12th.  Went  to  Farmington;  visited  a  number 
of  families,  and  preached  in  the  evening.  Enjoyed  freedom 
in  speaking,  and  solemnity  in  prayer. 

'  Saturday,  13th.  Attended  a  conference  meeting  in  the 
afternoon.  In  private  evening  devotions,  enjoyed  an  uncom- 
mon season  in  pouring  out  my  soul  to  God. 

'Sabbath,  14th.  Preached  to  a  full  assembly.  The  Lord 
helped  me  to  speak  his  word  with  solemnity,  and  some  degree 
of  plainness.  Went  home,  and  attended  a  prayer-meeting  in 
the  evening.  Felt  much  pity  and  earnestness  in  addressing 
the  unconverted,  and  praying  for  them. 

'Monday,  loth.  Preached  in  the  evening  in  the  lower 
part  of  Farmington,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Felt,  in 
some  measure,  the  perishing  condition  of  sinners. 

'Tuesday,  16th.  Visited  several  families.  Preached  in 
the  afternoon,  in  another  neighborhood,  from  Psalm-  115  :  8, 
"  They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them,"  etc.  Enjoyed 
solemnity  and  tenderness  in  speaking  and  in  prayer.  In  still 
another  neighborhood,  attended  a  conference  in  the  evening. 

'Wednesday,  17th.  Visited  a  few  families.  Found  enjoy- 
ment in  conversing  and  praying.  Had  a  lecture  at  the  centre 
of  the  town.  Felt  quite  disheartened  to  see  so  few  attend.  A 
slight  falling  of  snow,  indeed, — but  nothing  to  prevent  the 
prosecution  of  worldly  business.  The  Lord  is  visiting  other 
places  in  the  vicinity ;  and  here  the  people  seem  to  remain 
unmoved.  Notwithstanding  these  discouragements,  however, 
felt  my  heart  considerably  warmed  in  dispensing  God's  word. 
Attended  a  prayer-meeting  in  the  evening,  about  a  mile  from 
this.  Was  discouraged  again  by  the  absence  of  some  pro- 
fessors whom  I  had  invited  and  expected.  Oh  "Lord,  I  am 
brought  low  ;  help  thou  me ;  for  vain  is  the  help  of  man."  If 
professed  Christians  who  absent  themselves  from  weekly  (not 
to  say,  Sabbath)  meetings,  knew  how  much  discouragement 


MEMOIR    OF  [1802. 

and  suffering  their  absence  often  occasions  to  ministers,  and 
to  their  more  punctual  brethren,  they  would  feel  constrained, 
from  mere  humanity,  if  from  no  higher  principle,  to  change 
their  habits.  When  sluggishness  pleads  for  repose,  or  world- 
liness  for  a  different  appropriation  of  time,  and  a  sleepy  con- 
science assents  to  the  arrangement  and  pronounces  the  act 
innocent,  they  may  be  inflicting  a  wound  which  reaches  the 
very  hearts  of  their  brethren  and  which  is  deeply  injurious 
to  the  cause  of  religion. 

A  meeting  which  he  attended  on  the  second  of  March  gives 
occasion  to  speak  of  an  association  which  might  have  been 
previously  noticed.  Schism  in  the  body  of  Christ  was  to  him 
a  painful  thought.  He  longed  to  see  union  and  fellowship 
among  evangelical  Christians  of  different  denominations. 
This  led  him  to  suggest  the  forming  of  a  Union  Conference. 
Measures  had  been  taken,  and  a  set  of  rules  adopted,  and  a 
regular  organization  formed  in  the  latter  part  of  1799.  It 
embraced  persons  from  four  communions,  Congregational! sts, 
Calvinist  Baptists,  Freewill  Baptists,  and  Methodists.  They 
met  quarterly.  The  former  part  of  the  day  was  spent  in 
devotional  exercises,  speaking  of  the  dealings  of  God  with 
their  own  souls,  and  in  mutual  exhortation.  In  the  afternoon 
a  sermon  was  preached.  The  moderator  and  preacher  were 
chosen  from  the  different  denominations  in  rotation.  How 
long  this  organization  existed,  we  have  not  the  means  of 
saying.  A  thought,  however,  may  be  here  suggested.  Spi- 
ritual intercourse  among  Christians  of  different  orders  tends 
to  prevent  or  remove  asperities,  and  promote  brotherly  love. 
And  the  breaking  up  of  neighborhoods  and  towns  into  differ- 
ent denominations,  (which  is  often  deeply  lamented.)  may  be 
a  part  of  a  great  plan  in  which  God  intends,  by  bringing  into 
contiguity  Christians  of  different  sentiments,  to  make  them 
acquainted  with  each  others'  hearts,  and  tender  of  each  others' 
feelings  ;  and  thus  lead  them  to  look  on  their  mutual  differ- 
ences with  candor  and  kindness,  and  gradually  to  see  and 


May-Sept.]  JOT  HAM   SEW  ALL.  97 

renounce  what  is  erroneous,  and  ultimately  agree  in  their  views 
of  the  truths  of  the  Christian  system.  How  much  he  is  now 
doing  in  this  way  to  produce  that  oneness  of  sentiment  and  feel- 
ing which  is  to  characterize  the  church  in  the  state  of  triumph 
and  glory  on  earth,  to  which  it  is  advancing,  time  must  determine. 

We  are  unwilling  to  pass  over  the  entire  period  of  this 
mission  without  saying  that,  aside  from  the  impressions  which 
his  preaching  quite  frequently  produced,  and  the  anxious 
persons  whom,  in  some  places,  he  addressed,  he  found  some 
cheering  evidence  of  a  blessing  upon  his  previous  labors.  In 
April,  he  found  a  man  in  New  Vineyard  indulging  hope  who 
was  awakened  by  a  sermon  he  preached  there  in  November 
previous.  In  Sidney,  also,  toward  the  close  of  May,  he  found 
a  lad  about  twelve  years  old  giving  hopeful  evidence  of  piety, 
and  a  woman  in  Vassalborough  professing  to  have  been  re- 
newed, both  of  whom  attributed  the  commencement  of  the 
work  of  grace  in  their  hearts  to  his  preaching  the  August 
before,  as  he  entered  upon  his  eastern  mission.  The  reader 
will  remember  the  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer  which 
immediately  preceded  that  mission,  and  the  tears  with  which 
he  went  forth  bearing  the  precious  seed  of  truth ;  and  will 
rejoice  that  he  was  permitted  so  soon  to  see  some  sheaves  of 
a  spiritual  harvest  garnered  as  the  result. 

From  May  to  the  8th  of  October,  he  appears  not  to  have 
been  engaged  in  a  mission,  or  to  have  been  in  the  employ  of 
any  particular  society.  His  labors  during  this  time  were 
bestowed  in  Chesterville  and  the  neighboring  towns.  And 
in  the  record  he  has  left  of  these,  we  find  few  instances 
of  coldness  and  dulness.  Generally,  there  was  the  same 
earnest  and  successful  looking  to  God  for  help,  and  the  same 
assistance  experienced,  which  we  have  previously  noticed. 
On  a  journey  of  some  twenty-five  miles,  with  a  lecture  on  the 
way,  instead  of  whiling  away  the  hours  in  idle  thoughts,  or 
spending  them  as  a  mere  recreation,  we  find  him  employing 
most  of  the  time  in  prayer ;  and  then,  on  the  Sabbath  follow- 
9  • 


98  ME3IOIR    OF  [1802. 

ing  this,  between  the  labors  of  the  day  and  evening,  he  makes 
a  hearty  and  fresh  dedication  of  himself  —  all  his  powers  of 
body  and  soul  —  to  God,  to  be  used  as  an  instrument  of  at- 
tacking Satan's  kingdom ;  and  then,  going  forth  to  duty  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord,  he  enjoys  uncommon  solemnity  and 
engagedness  in  prayer  and  in  dispensing  the  word  of  God. 
He  had  occasion  to  rejoice  also  in  the  prosperity  of  Zion.  To 
the  little  church  of  which  he  was  a  member  he  had  the 
pleasure  of  receiving,  in  July,  twelve  members  at  one  time. 

The  interest  which  he  felt  in  the  cause  of  Christ  did  not 
allow  him  to  be  indifferent  to  anything  which  affected  the 
peace  of  the  churches,  or  the  honor  of  the  Christian  name. 
Whatever  affected  these  he  sensibly  felt ;  and  was  ready  for 
any  service  by  which  an  injury  could  be  redressed,  or  a  wound 
be  healed.  He  felt  somewhat  of  the  Apostle's  "  care  of  all 
the  churches  "  in  the  vicinity  ;  and  once  in  Chesterville,  and 
once  in  Norridgewock,  during  the  season,  we  find  him  em- 
ployed in  relieving,  and  hopefully  removing,  difficulties  which 
had  arisen. 

It  will  be  expected,  of  course,  that  considerable  attention 
was  claimed  by  his  domestic  concerns.  But  this,  with  all 
the  other  labors  devolving  upon  him,  did  not  prevent  him 
from  taking  an  interest  in  the  religious  instruction  of  children 
and  youth.  Being  now  somewhat  at  home,  he  conducted  a 
catechetical  exercise  among  the  children  in  his  own  neighbor- 
hood, and  in  another  a  few  miles  distant.  The  method  he 
pursued,  was  to  encourage  them  to  commit  from  the  Assem- 
bly's Shorter  Catechism,  and  come  together  for  recitation. 
He  would  then  question,  and  familiarly  explain,  illustrate, 
and  enforce.  This  was  accompanied  by  fervent  prayer,  in 
which  the  immortal  interests  of  the  little  flock  around  him 
were  commended  to  God. 

His  whole  religious  history  we  see  marked  with  fervent 
love  to  souls.  An  incident  illustrative  of  this,  which  occurred 
in  July  of  this  year,  it  may  be  proper  to  notice.  It  was 


May-Sept.]  JOTHAMSEWALI,  .  99 

Saturday  noon.  He  had  considerable  hay  down  ;  and  the 
day,  before,  and  up  to  that  time,  the  weather  had  been  un- 
favorable. It  then  became  fair ;  and  the  question,  what  he 
should  do,  arose.  If  he  began  with  it,  he  could  not  get  it 
entirely  fit  for  the  barn.  He  had  previously  felt  the  bad 
effects  of  being  too  deeply  interested  in  worldly  things  near 
the  close  of  the  week  ;  and  wished,  with  the  Sabbath  so  near, 
to  be  released  from  earthly  cares.  He  asked  counsel  of  God, 
and  concluded  to  leave  it,  and  go  to  a  neighboring  town  where 
was  his  appointment  for  the  next  day.  And  he  turned  his 
back  upon  his  hay  with  this  remark :  '  If  it  please  God  to 
suffer  my  hay  to  spoil,  so  be  it.  If  he  will  be  so  gracious  as  to 
give  me  one  soul  to-morrow,  it  will  be  a  rich  reward,  should  I 
suffer  the  loss  of  all  worldly  things.'  Having  thus  said  to  the 
cares  of  the  world  as  Abraham  did  to  his  servants,  "Tarry 
ye  here,  while  I  go  yonder  and  worship,"  he  went,  and  en- 
joyed a  solemn,  interesting,  and  profitable  season.  On  Mon- 
day he  attended  to  his  hay ;  and  remarked, '  The  hay  did 
just  as  well  as  if  I  had  felt  ever  so  anxious  about  it,  and  I 
did  much  better  not  to  be  anxious.'  Many  others,  doubtless, 
would  find  it  equally  profitable  to  leave  their  worldly  concerns 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  God  on  the  Sabbath.  That  Sabbath 
he  spent  in  Farmington,  and  felt  an  uncommon  earnestness 
in  prayer  for  an  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  that 
place.  His  diary  frequently  records  the  same  feeling,  and 
his  wrestlings  at  the  mercy  seat.  He  seems  ^o  have  had  a 
peculiar  anxiety  for  that  people  ;  and  l*ow  much  the  cause 
of  religion  in  that  place  is  indebted,  under  God,  to  his  inter- 
cessions, remains  to  be  seen  in  the  revelations  of  another 
world. 

The  following  occurrence,  with  its  accompaniments,  is  deem- 
ed worthy  of  a  place  here,  as  it  shows  his  dislike  to  litigation ; 
his  readiness  to  yield,  even  where  a  point  in  law  afforded,  at 
the  time,  a  prospect  of  successfully  contesting  the  case  ;  how 
entirely  he  regarded  all  which  he  possessed  as  God's ;  his 


100  MEMOIR    OF  [1802. 

habit  of  referring  all  his  affairs  to  Divine  direction ;  and  how, 
under  all  circumstances,  and  in  whatever  engaged,  he  must 
be  about  his  Master's  business. 

In  most  new  settlements,  the  form  and  dimensions  of  roads 
are  accommodated  somewhat  to  the  convenience  of  the  inhab- 
itants ;  and  it  so  happened  that  a  part  of  the  road  which  lay 
through  his  farm  was  not  fenced  as  wide  as  the  law  required.  A 
person  in  another  town,  wishing  probably  to  profit  by  the  portion 
of  the  fine  which  the  law  awards  to  the  complainant,  without 
giving  any  intimation  of  his  intentions,  commenced  an  action 
against  him  and  a  number  of  his  neighbors  for  this  deficiency. 
He  was  summoned  to  answer  for  the  default,  and  also  as  a 
witness  in  another  case.  In  going  to  the  place,  the  same 
solicitude  for  the  good  of  souls  which  so  constantly  influenced 
him,  led  him  to  converse  and  pray  with  the  family  where  he 
called  for  dinner.  On  arriving,  lest  the  time  and  trouble  of 
making  a  defence  '  should  be  a  hindrance  to  him  in  the  great 
work  of  the  ministry,'  he  disposed  of  the  affair  in  the  sum- 
mary way  of  agreeing  to  pay  the  fine  and  costs  without  a  trial. 
'  In  the  evening  in  secret,  (he  says,)  in  the  most  familiar 
manner,  I  told  God  that  what  property  he  had  put  into  my 
hands  was  his,  and  what  he  called  for  in  the  course  of  his 
providence  I  cheerfully  resigned.  Also  told  him  what  debts 
lay  upon  me ;  and,  as  he  had  engaged  to  provide  for  me, 
(though  most  unworthy,)  and  directed  me  to  come  to  him 
for  supplies,  besought  him  to  furnish  me  with  the  means  of 
meeting  them ;  and  that  he  would  sanctify,  to  my  spiritual 
good,  all  the  dispensations  of  his  providence  toward  me.' 

The  next  day,  waiting  for  the  case  in  which  his  testimony 
was  required,  he  preached  in  the  afternoon  in  the  village 
where  the  court  was  sitting,  (Augusta,)  and  in  the  evening 
at  Hallowell.  The  day  following,  as  the  trial  still  lingered, 
he  obtained  leave  of  absence,  and  preached  in  the  afternoon 
at  North  Augusta,  and  in  the  evening  at  Sidney.  The  next 
morning  he  crossed  the  river  before  breakfast ;  and,  on  his 


Oct.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  101 

way  to  court,  visited  and  prayed  with  a  sick  woman.  Were 
every  member  of  the  household  of  faith  as  carefully  to  fill  up 
time  with  the  service  of  God,  how  much  more  would  be 
accomplished  than  now  is  ! 

The  word  of  God  assures  us  that  those  who  will  live  godly 
in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer  more  or  less  of  opposition  and 
abuse  in  this  revolted  world.  And  it  is  honorable  to  religion, 
when  in  the  spirit  of  their  Master  they  can  meet  such  treat- 
ment  with  meekness  and  a  disposition  to  forgive.  Returning 
from  a  lecture  in  a  neighboring  town,  in  which  he  had  spoken 
of  a  great  revival  in  Kentucky  where  a  number  of  deists  had 
been  hopefully  converted,  he  was  abusively  accosted  by  a 
man  of  deistical  sentiments,  and  accused  of  standing  up  before 
God,  and  under  the  pretence  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  telling 
over  '  a  parcel  of  newspaper  whims.'  He  attempted  at  first 
calmly  to  defend  himself.  This  only  drew  forth  fresh  torrents 
of  abuse  from  the  man,  who  finally  told  him  that '  he  could 
not  preach  a  sermon  without  blackguarding,  if  he  were  to  go 
to  h — 11 ! '  At  this  he  quietly  rode  on,  counting  it  an  honor 
to  bear  reproach  for  Christ's  sake,  and  feeling  that  he  could 
adopt  the  prayer  of  the  Saviour  on  the  cross,  "  Father,  forgive 
them ;  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  Both  the  accuser 
and  the  accused  are  now  in  the  other  world,  and  both  'know 
whether  deism  or  Christianity  furnishes  the  needed  resting- 
place  for  the  soul  of  man. 

Near  the  first  of  October,  being  about  to  enter  upon  another 
mission,  he  spent  a  day  with  his  brother  Samuel  in  prayer, 
that  they  both  might  possess  ministerial  qualifications,  and 
might  be  assisted  and  succeeded  in  the  great  work ;  and, 
particularly,  that  he  might  enjoy  the  Divine  presence  and 
blessing  in  his  contemplated  tour. 

On  the  8th,  he  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  his  family,  and 
started  on  another  tour  eastward.  He  commenced  his  jour- 
ney on  an  upper  route  through  New  Sharon,  Starks,  Norridge- 
wock,  etc. ;  and  struck  the  track  he  had  formerly  taken  at 

9* 


102  -MEMOIR    OF  [11802. 

Albion,  then  called  Freetown  Plantation.  Here  he  enjoyed 
a  solemn  season  in  speaking  from  the  words,  "  The  wicked 
shall  be  turned  into  hell,"  etc.,  and  warning  sinners  of  their 
guilt  and  danger.  His  subject  was  appropriate  to  the  congre- 
gation, for  he  was  now  in  the  place  where  his  Christian  friend 
compared  himself  to  a  pelican  in  the  wilderness ;  and  his 
admonitions  were  doubtless  faithful  and  impressive. 

Passing  through  Dixmont,  then  known  as  Collegetown, 
where  he  preached,  (as,  indeed,  in  every  place,)  he  speak3 
of  it  as  containing  about  thirty  families,  and  settlements  there 
as  having  commenced  about  four  years  previous. 

At  Hamden  a  branch  of  his  paternal  relatives  had  been 
planted.  His  father's  youngest  sister,  then  Widow  Crosby, 
a  pious  woman,  whom,  for  the  first  time,  he  saw  on  his  previ- 
ous eastern  mission,  resided  there.  Her  children  and  de- 
scendants were  about  her.  Here  he  gave  an  evening  lecture 
from  Esther  8 :  6  —  "  How  shall  I  endure  to  see  the  destruc- 
tion of  my  kindred  ?  "  'A  number  of  my  kindred,  (he  says,) 
were  present.  A  solemn,  affectionate  season.  Oh,  that  good 
may  be  done  to  souls  ! '  The  next  day  he  visited  and  con- 
versed with  some  of  them.  '  While  praying  with  them,  (he 
says,)  my  soul  melted  for  those  of  them  who  are  yet  uncon- 
verted. Felt  the  force  of  my  last  evening's  text.' 

At  Bucksport  he  found  a  'young  Mr.  Blood,'  who  had 
preached  there  a  few  Sabbaths ;  the  same  who  was  soon  after 
settled  there,  and  remained  the  pastor  of  that  church  for 
nearly  forty  years. 

He  proceeded  as  far  eastward  as  Sullivan,  where  he  spent 
a  few  days,  received  two  members  to  the  infant  church  there, 
and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper. 

On  his  return,  he  visited  Sedgwick.  Here,  giving  two  lec- 
turivs,  he  says :  '  I  think  I  never  enjoyed  more  solemnity  and 
freedom  in  prayer  and  preaching.  The  Lord  seemed  to  be 
present,  and  to  fill  my  soul  and  my  mouth.  Many  tears  were 
shed  in  the  assembly.  I  was  told  that  two-thirds  of  the 


Oct.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  103 

congregation  were  Christians.  All  the  adult  persons  in  the 
family  where  I  spent  the  night,  eight  in  number,  are  profes- 
sors.' Of  this  place,  he  says,  'The  Lord  has  done  great 
things  here.  Last  winter  and  spring  witnessed  the  fourth 
revival  since  Mr.  Merrill's  settlement.  The  church  now  con- 
sists of  nearly  two  hundred  members.  Could  scarcely  find  a 
person  who  was  not  a  professor  of  religion.'  Mr.  Merrill  and 
his  church  were  then  Congregationalists.  He  was  settled 
there  in  September,  1793 ;  subsequently  to  which  a  wonder- 
ful out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  was  granted  in  that  vicinity.  In 
1804,  Mr.  Merrill  changed  his  views  of  church-ordinances; 
and  in  1805  himself  and  about  eighty  others  were  immersed, 
and  a  Baptist  church  was  formed.  (Greenleaf's  Ecclesiastical 
Sketches.) 

Bodily  fatigue  and  a  consequent  depression  of  spirits,  may 
often  exert  an  influence  on  the  state  of  religious  enjoyment. 
This  was  probably  the  case  with  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
in  the  following  instance.  He  had  preached  twice  in  Orland, 
as  he  passed  along,  and  again  in  the  evening  at  Bucksport. 
Here,  while  he  spoke  with  a  comfortable  readiness,  he  enjoy- 
ed not  the  accustomed  measure  of  the  Divine  presence.  This 
occasioned  him  to  say,  '  Felt  grieved  for  the  people,  who 
were  in  attentive  expectation,  only,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  to 
be  disappointed.  Felt  fatigued  and  depressed  in  body  and 
mind ;  and  also  ashamed  and  guilty,  as  if  I  ought  to  have 
asked  the  forgiveness  of  the  people,  as  well  as  of  God.  Could 
get  no  relief  in  secret  prayer.  The  Lord  seemed  to  turn  away 
his  face  from  me.' 

It  is  here  proper  to  remark,  that  ministers  often  have  trials 
and  sufferings,  which  their  hearers  little  suspect.  When  go- 
ing from  the  place  of  worship,  without  any  special  outward 
indications  of  the  fact,  pangs  may  be  felt  within,  under  a 
dreadful  sense  of  deficiency  in  matter,  manner,  or  feeling. 
Standing  between  God  and  their  fellow-men,  to  deal  with  him 
for  them,  and  with  them  for  him  ;  a  sense  of  falling  below, 


104  MEMOIR     OP  [1802. 

far  below,  what  they  ought  to  be  and  do,  fills  their  inmost 
souls  with  bitterness  and  anguish.  Their  hearers,  perhaps, 
are  satisfied ;  possibly,  edified,  —  at  the  worst,  disappoint- 
ed ;  —  but  they  feel  mortified,  guilty,  condemned.  A  sense 
of  what  they  should  be  stands  so  far  in  advance  of  what 
they  attain,  that,  without  special  Divine  assistance  at  the  time, 
they  are  seldom  if  ever  satisfied  with  their  own  performances. 
No  reach  of  knowledge,  or  finish  of  learning ;  no  accuracy 
of  logic,  or  elegance  of  style,  or  power  of  oratory,  will  satisfy 
a  spiritual  mind  without  spiritual  enjoyment.  The  soul  of 
the  minister  must  approve  itself  to  God,  or  he  has  fearful  in- 
ward corrodings.  Let  this  impress  pn  every  reader  the  im- 
portance of  fervent  prayer  in  behalf  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Gospel.  If  they  have  more  enjoyments  than  their  private 
brethren,  —  they  also  have  keener  sufferings,  and,  sometimes, 
in  fearful  amount. 

The  next  morning  he  was  comforted  by  renewed  manifesta- 
tions of  Divine  love  to  his  soul, —  and  religious  duties  were 
sweet. 

Sabbath,  November  7th,  we  find  him  again  at  Albion. 
Here  he  felt  an  uncommon  desire  to  be  blessed  in  his  efforts 
for  the  salvation  of  souls.  But  he  shall  speak  for  himself. 

'  Think  I  was  enabled  to  wrestle  in  prayer  for  assistance  in 
the  duties  of  the  day.  Longed  to  have  some  soul  or  souls 
here,  as  the  crown  of  my  rejoicing.  Had  some  faith  to  be- 
lieve that  good  will  be  done.  A  large  assembly  gave  solemn 
attention,  and  some  wept  under  the  word.  Conversed  with  a 
few  after  meeting  who  were  impressed.  Preached  again, 
from  Heb.  4:12,"  The  word  of  the  Lord  is  quick  and  power- 
ful," etc.  This  also  was  a  solemn  season.  Observed  one  per- 
son, whose  attention  appeared  to  be  specially  arrested.  Con- 
versed with  her  after  meeting.  Pleaded  importunately  in 
secret  for  some  fruit  of  my  labor  here.  Belfeved  there  would 
be  some. 

'  Monday,  8th.      Visited  and  prayed  with   a   sick   child. 


NOV.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  105 

Rode  back  eight  miles  to  Sandy  Stream,  and  then  two  or 
three  miles  up  the  stream.  Preached  in  the  afternoon,  and 
baptized  a  child. 

'  Tuesday,  9th.  Rode  a  few  miles  to  Bryant's  Ridge,  so 
called.  Visited  a  few  families,  and  preached  from  Isa.  40  :  3, 
4,  "  The  voice  of  one  that  crieth  in  the  wilderness,"  etc. 
Trust  I  was  favored  with  Divine  assistance. 

'Wednesday,  10th.  Went  about  five  miles  south-westerly, 
mostly  through  forest  and  bad  road,  to  Beaver-hill  settlement. 
Preached  in  the  afternoon  to  a  small  attentive  assembly,  from 
Isa.  42 : 1 6, "  I  will  bring  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew  not," 
etc.  Preached  again  in  the  evening.  Both  were  comforta- 
ble seasons. 

'  Thursday,  1 1th.  Rode  ten  miles,  part  of  the  way  through 
the  forest,  and  without  much  road,  to  the  head  of  Twelve- 
mile  Pond.  Preached  in  the  afternoon  to  an  attentive  as- 
sembly, and  large,  for  the  place.  Preached  again  in  the 
evening,  in  another  neighborhood,  from  Eph.  2:8,"  By  grace 
are  ye  saved,"  etc.  Enjoyed  freedom  and  solemnity  in  speak- 
ing and  in  prayer.  The  assembly  appeared  attentive  and 
tender.' 

Friday  found  him  again  at  Albion,  where  he  preached  in 
the  afternoon  and  evening.  <  In  secret,  (he  says,)  wrestled 
till  my  strength  was  spent,  for  souls  in  this  place  as  the 
crown  of  my  rejoicing..  Knew  not  how  to  be  denied.'  He 
proceeds: — 

'  Saturday,  13th.  The  parents  of  the  family  where  I  took 
breakfast  have  been  under  serious  impressions  since  last  Sab- 
bath. Felt  much  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  them.  Went 
about  a  mile,  and  preached  in  the  forenoon  from  Luke  19:9, 
u  This  day  is  salvation  come  to  this  house."  At  the  naming 
of  the  text,  the  woman  of  the  house  burst  into  tears.  An 

* 

arrow  had  reached  her  heart,  from  the  wound  of  which  she 
obtained  no  relief  till  the  balm  of  Gilead  was  applied.'  This 
person  lived  and  died  like  a  Christian. 


.^06  MEMOIR    QF  1,802. 

We  cannot  but  regret  that  he  did  not  tarry  here,  and  follow 
up  the  impressions  which  his  preaching  had  so  happily  pro- 
duced. But  this,  amidst  a  wide-spread  and  destitute  popula- 
tion, would  not  have  been  in  accordance  with  the  manner  in 
which  missions  were  then  generally  conducted.  We  are 
happy,  however,  to  know  that  a  number  of  conversions  fol- 
lowed these  labors,  in  consequence  of  which  a  church  was 
organized  here,  about  a  year  after, —  as  we  shall  have  occa- 
sion to  notice. 

Beaching  New  Sharon,  he  gave  a  lecture  from  the  words, 
"  And  upon  all  the  hills  that  shall  be  digged  with  the 
mattock,  there  shall  not  come  thither  the  fear  of  briers  and 
thorns  ;  but  it  shall  be  for  the  sending  forth  of  oxen,  and  for 
the  treading  of  lesser  cattle." 

This  lecture  was  preached  in  a  private  house,  on  an  excel- 
lent farm,  in  an  elevated  situation.  He  has  not  favored  us 
with  his  train  of  thought  on  the  text ;  but  he  probably  con- 
sidered it  as  prophetic  of  the  prosperity  of  the  church,  and 
that  from  the  smaller  branches  of  it,  "  all  the  hills  that  shall 
be  digged,"  laborers  should  be  sent  forth  to  other  portions  of 
the  vineyard  of  Christ,  and  other  parts  of  the  world.  And  it 
may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to  know  that  he  was  preach- 
ing to  the  then  infant  church,  whence,  afterward,  the  lamented 
missionary,  Munson,  who  was  slaughtered  by  the  Battas  in 
Sumatra,  went  forth,  and  in  the  very  house  and  family  in 
which,  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  he  found  a  home.  There 
may  thus  have  been  a  fulfilment  of  some  of  the  remarks 
made  at  the  time,  of  which  the  preacher  little  thought. 

Reaching  home  on  the  seventeenth  of  November,  he  says, 
'I  have  been  absent  forty-one  days.  Jn  the  time  I  have 
travelled  three  hundred  and  forty-three  miles ;  preached  fifty- 
six  times ;  made  sixty-eight  family  visits ;  visited  two  schools  ; 
attended  two  church  conferences  ;  admitted  seven  persons  to 
church  fellowship ;  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  twice ; 
and  baptized  one  adult,  and  thirty-one  children.  Have  gone 


Dec.]  JOTHAM    8  E  WALL.  107 

out  and  returned  in  health  and  safety;  and  these  blessings 
have  been  uninterruptedly  enjoyed  by  my  family.  Thanks 
be  to  God.  How  sweet  it  is  to  look  up  to  God  as  the  giver 
of  all  our  mercies,  and  beg  him  to  accept  our  poor  returns  of 
thanksgiving  and  praise.' 

On  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  he  says :  '  It  is  sweet  to 
be  in  the  bosom  of  my, own  family,  where  we  can  raise  the 
song  of  praise  in  connection  with  social  prayer.  Have  gen- 
erally practised  singing  in  domestic  worship,  since  I  had  a 
family ;  and  after  being  absent,  to  return  and  gather  my 
family  .around  me,  and  unite  in  a  psalm  or  hymn,  —  carrying 
all  parts  of  the  music,  is  comforting  and  delightful.' 

He  was  at  home  but  a  few  days  before  he  was  away  again, 
visiting  and  laboring  in  the  adjacent  towns  and  up  the  Sandy 
River.  In  this  region,  especially  in  Wilton,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, there  had  recently  been  some  special  religious  interest. 
At  a  prayer-meeting  in  this  place,  he  thus  describes  his  feel- 
ings :  *  It  was  one  of  the  most  solemn  seasons  I  ever  expe- 
rienced. In  prayer  my  soul  seemed  to  launch  out  beyond  all 
created  things,  and  wrestle  with  the  Great  God  in  Christ,  for 
the  salvation  of  souls.  Pleaded  till  my  strength  failed.  Could 
not  but  believe  that  the  Lord  has  mercy  in  store  for  some 
souls  present  in  unconversion.'  He  continues, '  God's  great 
goodness  to  me  lays  me  under  unspeakable  obligation  to  him. 
I  owe  ten  thousand  talents,  and  have  nothing  to  pay.  I  have 
nowhere  to  look  but  to  my  blessed  Surety  —  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  He  has  made  the  payment  good  for  all  that  I  now 
owe,  and  all  which  I  ever  shall  owe  !  Oh,  what  a  Saviour 
he  is  ! '  A  few  days  after  this,  he  enjoyed  a  season  of  simi- 
lar interest  in  a  prayer-meeting  at  home.  '  The  Lord  met 
with  us  (he  says),  and  helped  us  in  prayer.  Was  enabled  to 
get  near  the  throne  of  grace,  and  wrestle  for  the  conversion 
of  souls  in  such  manner  ihat  I  verily  believe  some  present 
will  become  new  creatures.  Was  in  such  a  sweet  frame  in 
prayer,  afterward,  that  the  passaga  dwelt  in  my  mind,  "  Thou 


108  MEM  OIK    OF  [1802. 

anointest  my  head  with  oil ;  iny  cup  runneth  over.  Surely 
goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the  days  of  my  life  ; 
and  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  forever." ' 

Having  returned  from  his  tour  up  the  Sandy  River,  he  now 
took  a  journey  westward,  through  Jay,  Dixfield,  Andover, 
and  Bethel,  as  far  as  Shelburne,  N.  H.  Of  Shelburne,  he 
says  :  '  This  town  contains  only  fifteen  families ;  and  though 
more  than  thirty  years  have  passed  since  the  first  settlements 
were  made,  it  is  said  that  no  missionary  has  previously  visited 
the  place.'  Here  he  preached  at  the  house  of  a  man  whose 
wife  had  recently  indulged  hope,  and  baptized  her  and  her 
ten  children.  '  The  power  of  the  Lord  (he  says),  seemed  to 
fall  on  the  assembly.  It  was  truly  a  solemn  season.'  A  sub- 
sequent development  shows  some  good  done  at  this  time. 

It  may  gratify  the  reader,  as  well  as  give  him  an  idea  of 
the  newness  of  the  region,  to  glance  at  some  brief  notes  which 
he  made  respecting  some  of  the  places  which  he  visited  in 
this  short  excursion.  Of  Dixfield  he  says :  *  The  first  in- 
habitants came  here  about  seven  years  ago.  There  are  now 
more  than  forty  families ;  but  I  cannot  learn  that  there  are 
more  than  two  or  three  pious  persons  among  them.  It  was 
originally  called  Holmanton,  from  a  Mr.  Holman  who  was  a 
proprietor,  and  active  in  promoting  its  settlement.  Its  pres- 
ent name  was  derived  from  Dr.  Dix,  who  became  a  land- 
holder here  and  in  Dixmont.  The  inhabitants  of  Andover 
came  principally  from  Andover,  Ms.  Settlements  commenced 
here  nine  or  ten  years  ago.  The  town  contains  twenty-six 
families.  Bethel  began  to  be  settled  about  thirty  years  ago. 
Bostic  [now  Newry],  contains  twenty  families,  fourteen  on 
Sunday  River,  and  six  on  Bear  River,  —  [tributaries  to  the 
Androscoggin.]  The  first  settlements  in  Oxford,  [now  Al- 
bany,] were  made  about  ten  years  ago.  The  town  contains 
twenty-two  families.  Norway  began  to  be  settled  about  six- 
teen years  ago,  and  is  said  to  contain  one  hundred  and  eight 
families.' 


Dec.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  109 

During  this  lour,  he  enjoyed  many  solemn  and  interesting 
seasons  in  public  and  in  private.  '  Had  longing  desires  (he 
says),  for  Divine  assistance  in  the  great  work  of  the  ministry. 
The  fields  seemed  to  be  white  for  the  harvest,  and  my  own 
insufficiency  great.' 


'  w  art  v  t. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TEACHES  SCHOOL. DEATH  OF  A  CHILD.  —  FOUR  EASTERN 

EXCURSIONS. DEATH  OF  ANOTHER  CHILD. 

THE  portion  of  autobiography  which  he  left,  and  which 
the  writer  has  felt  compelled  to  abridge,  and  throw  into  a 
different  form,  extends  beyond  this  time.  A  paragraph  from 
it  is  here  inserted :  — 

'  Saturday,  January  1, 1803  ;  my  diary  begins  thus  :  Time, 
on  his  hasty  wings,  has  brought  a  new  year.  My  forty-third 
year  is  now  completed.  It  is  not  likely  that  I  shall  live  as 
many  more  years.  So  I  then  wrote.  But  while  writing  this, 
I  am  four  score  and  ten  years,  and  almost  four  months,  old. 
So  the  Lord  has  dealt  with  me.  How  much  longer  1  shall 
continue,  in  this  world,  I  know  not ;  but,  certainly,  it  cannot 
be  long.'  The  time  here  specified  was,  of  course,  the  latter 
part  of  April,  1850  ;  about  five  and  a  half  months  before  his 
death. 

From  the  beginning  of  January  to  the  latter  part  of  May, 
he  spent  principally  at  home,  preaching  most  of  the  Sabbaths 
in  the  different  neighborhoods  of  Chesterville.  A  few,  how- 
ever, were  distributed  between  Wilton,  Farmington,  Read- 
field,  and  North  Augusta.  The  6th  of  January,  he  observed 
as  a  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer,  —  humbly  to  confess 
his  sins  and  entreat  forgiveness ;  to  seek  direction  as  to  the 
manner  of  spending  the  remainder  of  the  winter,  whether  at 
home  or  abroad ;  and  if  the  former,  that  he  might  be  instru- 
mental of  turning  some  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 


1803.]  .TOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  Ill 

power  of  Satan  to  God  ;  to  seek  deliverance  from  worldly- 
mindedness  ;  and  to  entreat  spiritual  blessings  upon  his  family ; 
a  revival  of  religion  in  the  place ;  and  union  in  civil  and 
religious  affairs,  etc.  The  devotions  of  the  day  were,  in 
general,  sweet  and  refreshing  to  his  mind ;  and  he  enjoyed 
much  satisfaction  in  perusing  the  119th  Psalm,  and  in  looking 
over  his  diary,  and  noticing  God's  dealings  with  him  in  pre- 
vious times.  And  in  family  worship  in  the  evening,  he  speaks 
of  '  a  melting  time,'  in  praying  particularly  for  each  of  his 
children. 

In  his  official  duties  on  the  Sabbath,  and  in  lectures,  and 
at  other  times,  during  the  period  now  before  us,  he  seems  in 
general  to  have  enjoyed  the  Divine  presence  and  assistance, 
as  we  have  previously  noticed.  Often,  in  weekly  and  Sab- 
bath evening  prayer-meetings,  we  find  his  soul  melting  in 
earnestness  of  supplication  for  the  conversion  of  the  young 
around  him.  And  in  perusing  his  diary,  when  we  find  him 
1  mortified  and  ashamed,'  at  being  late  at  a  Wednesday  even- 
ing prayer-meeting,  and  at  another  going  a  mile  through  a 
storm,  to  attend  that  meeting ;  and,  finding  himself  the  only 
attendant,  improved  the  opportunity  to  converse  and  pray 
with  the  family  where  it  was  to  have  been  held ;  we  cannot 
but  wish  that  many  others  were  imbued  with  his  spirit. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  place  where  he  lived  was 
still  comparatively  new,  and  that  few  literary  advantages  for 
the  young  were  there  enjoyed.  At  the  solicitation  of  his 
neighbors,  he  consented  to  take  them  under  his  care,  in  the 
form  of  a  winter-school.  It  was  the  first  winter-school  which 
had  been  taught  in  the  place.  His  own  attainments  in 
science  were  not  great ;  but  they  were  sufficient  for  the  time 
and  the  place.  And  while  he  imparted  the  elements  of 
knowledge  in  the  simpler  branches  of  science,  he  was  solicit- 
ous for  the  spiritual  salvation  of  his  tender  charge.  His 
habit  was,  to  pray  with  them  morning  and  evening,  to  ques- 
tion them  on  Saturdays  from  the  Assembly's  Shorter  Gate- 


112  MEMOIR    OF  [1803. 

chism,  and  frequently  to  speak  to  them  on  the  great  things 
of  God  and  eternity.  We  find  him  often  filled  in  prayer 
with  great  earnestness  for  their  salvation ;  and  once,  at  least, 
after  they  were  dismissed  at  night,  tarrying  in  the  school- 
house,  there  to  intercede  with  God  in  their  behalf.  And 
thus,  while,  like  other  children,  they  were  going  thoughtlessly, 
and  playfully,  and  perhaps  wildly,  to  their  homes,  his  spiritual 
vision  was  looking  forward  to  their  immortal  destiny ;  and 
the  anxieties  of  his  heart  were  ascending  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  his  tears  falling  in  fervent  petitions  to  the  Highest, 
that  their  natures  might  be  purified,  and  heaven  be  finally 
theirs. 

But  this  undertaking,  which,  (with  one  or  two  slight  inter- 
ruptions,) continued  for  three  months,  could  not  entirely  divert 
attention  from  ministerial  duties,  especially  his  much-loved 
.work  of  preaching  the  Gospel.  His  spare  hours  were  dili- 
gently and  energetically  occupied.  On  returning  from  a 
neighboring  town,  for  instance,  where  he  had  been  to  spend 
the  Sabbath,  we  find  him  visiting  and  praying  with  three  or 
four  families  on  his  way  home,  before  breakfast.  In  addition 
to  the  Wednesday  evening  prayer-meeting  in  his  own  neigh- 
borhood, we  find  him  not  unfrequently  going  four  or  five  miles 
to  attend  another  on  Thursday  evening,  and  performing  more 
or  less  visiting  in  connection  with  it.  The  church  to  which 
he  belonged,  and  of  which  he  was  virtually  the  pastor,  also  re- 
quired attention.  Some  acts  of  discipline  had  become  neces- 
sary. A  number  of  meetings  were  held ;  and  we  find  him 
on  three  distinct  committees  at  the  same  time,  to  the  duties 
of  which  he  attended.  At  another  time,  he  suspends  his 
school  for  a  few  days,  and  takes  a  journey  of  some  sixty 
miles  and  back,  preaching  a  number  of  times  during  his 
absence.  At  another  time,  going  some  thirty  miles  for  the 
Sabbath,  he  preaches  on  Saturday  evening  not  far  from  the 
place,  three  times  on  the  Sabbath,  and  again  as  he  returned 
on  Monday. 


Jan.-May.]  JOTHAM   SEW  ALL.  113 

A  brief  extract  or  two  from  his  diary,  expressive  of  his  re- 
ligious enjoyment,  will  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  reader.  One 
relates  to  a  Sabbath  evening.  During  the  day  he  had  enjoyed 
warmth  of  affection  toward  God  and  the  souls  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  some  impressive  sense  of  the  great  truths  he  had 
dispensed.  In  the  evening,  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  his 
own  house.  God  seemed  tojbe  specially  present ;  and,  in  the 
enlargement  and  melting  of  soul  he  enjoyed  in  exhorting  and 
praying  for  the  impenitent,  he  says  :  '  I  seemed  to  get  a  little 
taste  of  heaven.  Oh,  what  satisfaction  there  is  in  communion 
with  God.  Felt  peace  inexpressible,  which  the  world  cannot 
give  or  take  away.'  Again,  he  says,  — '  Oh,  what  reason  have 
I  to  be  thankful  that  ever  I  was  brought  to  know  religion,  and 
be  in  a  situation  to  have  communion  with  God.  How  many 
thousands  there  are  who  have  no  religion.'  Of  a  Wednesday 
evening  prayer-meeting,  he  says, '  Truly,  God  met  with  us. 
Felt  an  uncommon  desire  for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  both 
in  prayer  and  exhortation.'  And  the  enjoyment  he  expe- 
rienced was  such  that  he  added,  '  Felt  sorry  when  meeting 
was  ended.'  Like  the  disciples  on  the  mount,  he  felt  that  it 
was  good  to  be  there  ;  and  Avas  reluctant  to  close  the  service 
which  had  been  such  a  feast  to  his  soul,  or  to  leave  the  place 
where  he  had  enjoyed  such  a  delightful  sense  of  the  Divine 
presence. 

Another  remark  which  he  made  is  >^rthy  of  being  pre- 
served, as  it  shows  how  watchful  he  was  over  his  own  spirit, 
and  how  careful  to  guard  against  the  error  that  the  excite- 
ment of  social  religious  worship  is  a  criterion  by  which  to 
judge  of  the  amount  of  one's  piety.  He  had  just  passed 
through  a  severe  domestic  trial  (to  which  the  reader  will  soon 
be  introduced),  which  had  made  him  feel  the  importance  of 
doing  more  for  the  spiritual  good  of  his  family.  One  thing 
which  he  was  thus  led  to  do,  was,  to  take  its  members  apart 
separately,  or  in  groups  of  two  or  three,  for  conversation  and 
prayer.  In  praying  with  his  wife  by  herself,  and  then  with 

10* 


114  MEMOIR    OF  [1-803. 

the  two  eldest  children,  he  had  experienced  enlargement  and 
comfort ;  but  in  his  more  private  devotions  he  was  dull  and 
wandering.  On  this  fact  he  remarked :  '  I  think  it  is  a  sign 
of  spiritual  decay,  when  the  least  life  is  experienced  in  secret/ 
—  i.  e.,  less  than  in  social  religious  duties.  A  rigid  applica- 
tion of  this,  as  a  rule,  to  a  single  instance  of  the  kind,  might 
not  be  just.  But  whoever  fin^s  the  fact  generally  existing 
in  his  history,  has  reason  to  fear  that  what,  perhaps,  he  re- 
gards as  piety,  may  be  a  mere  excitement  of  the  passions 
flowing,  from  custom,  in  a  religious  channel. 

The  domestic  trial  referred  to  above,  was  the  death  of  a 
child,  which  occurred  in  January.  The  account  of  the  pain- 
ful bereavement  will  be  best  given  substantially  in  his  own 
language :  — 

'Tuesday,  January  llth.  During  the  night,  our  second 
daughter,  Sarah,  nearly  three  and  a  half  years  old,  having 
been  oppressed  with  a  cold  for  two  days  past,  was  attacked 
with  quinsy.  The  applications  we  had  made  during  the  night 
affording  no  essential  relief,  I  was  persuaded  that  the  attack 
was  serious.  Ran  to  a  meadow  to  get  a  root,  from  the  use  of 
which  relief  was  hoped.  Fearing  that  she  was  unprepared 
for  death,  I  prayed  all  the  way  as  I  ran ;  and  then  kneeled 
down  in  the  meadow,  and  besought  the  Lord  for  mercy,  es- 
pecially in  relation  to  the  soul  of  my  dear  child.  Found 
some  relief  in  thi%  commending  her  to  God.  Walked  the 
room  much  during  the  day,  with  my  sick  child  in  my  arms. 
Retired  repeatedly  for  prayer  in  her  behalf.  A  physician, 
for  whom  we  sent  in  the  morning,  arrived  in  the  evening.  On 
his  coming,  we  joined  in  prayer  for  a  blessing  on  the  means 
which  might  be  used.  But  these  wore  without  much  effect. 
I  retired  once  more,  and,  in  agony,  besought  the  Lord  to 
sanctify  her  soul,  and  take  her  to  heaven.  She  grew  weaker 
fast ;  and  it  was  soon  perceived  that  she  was  going.  I  called 
jp  the  three  oldest  children  to  see  her  breathe  her  last.  She 
expired  without  a  struggle,  about  twenty  minutes  past  tr-n 


Jan."!  JOTHAM  SEWALL,  115 

Jf  * 

o'clock.  This  morning,  she  rose  herself,  —  and  now  she 
sleeps  in  death  !  Such  short  work  has  the  Lord  made  !  Only 
about  twelve  or  fourteen  hours  have  passed  since  I  appre- 
hended danger,  and  she  is  gone  !  After  her  spirit  had  fled, 
we  again  united  in  prayer,  confessing  the  sovereign  right  of 
God  to  take  what  he  had  given,  and  blessing  him  for  giving 
her  an  easy  passage  from  time  to  eternity, —  hoping  that  he 
had  taken  her  to  himself. 

'  Wednesday,  12th.  Awoke  this  morning  in  a  very  tender 
frame  of  mind,  meditating  upon  the  sudden  blow  of  God's  holy 
providence.  The  passage,  "  Show  me  wherefore  thou  con- 
tendest  with  me,"  was  in  my  mind  last  evening ;  and  I  thought 
I  could  not  look  amiss  for  sins.  They  clustered  thickly  around 
m'e  on  every  side.  I  think  I  "  know  the  rod,  and  who 
hath  appointed  it."  I  needed  correction.  It  is,  indeed,  inex- 
pressibly painful  to  think  that  my  dear  child  must  suffer  so 
much  here, — (and  I  know  not  how  it  is  with  her  in  the  other 
world,)  —  that  I  might  receive  the  benefit  of  a  correction.  I 
hope,  indeed,  that  the  Lord  renewed  her  heart,  and  took  her 
to  himself.  But  if  he  has  done  otherwise,  he  is  holy  and 
just.  God  can  answer  important  purposes,  in  which  his  own 
glory  is  concerned,  in  permitting  some  to  live  and  die  in  sin, 
and  reap  the  dreadful  consequences  of  transgression  forever. 
My  poor  dear  child  was  a  sinner  by  nature  and  practice,  and 
deserved  to  be  cast  away ;  and  if  she  has  been  saved,  or  I 
shall  be,  it  is  because  God  would  be  so  merciful,  and  not  be- 
cause we  deserve  any  mercy.  Think  I  never  before  felt  such 
unreserved  submission  to  a  Sovereign  God.  It  brought  inex- 
pressibly sweet  peace  to  my  soul.  And  as  I  returned  from 
the  grove  to  which  I  had  retired  for  private  devotion,  it  seemed 
that  I  must  literally  walk  softly,  lest  a  wry  step  should  jostle 
away  the  sweet  and  tender  peace  and  comfort  from  my  soul. 
In  family  worship,  I  read  the  fifth  hymn,  first  book,  of  Watts. 
Every  line,  word  and  syllable,  seemed  to  express  my  feelings, 
especially  the  last  two  lines :  — 


116  MEMOIR    OF  1803. 

"  And  we  '11  adore  the  justice  too, 
That  strikes  our  comforts  dead." 

Read  also  the  first  chapter  of  Job  ;  and  felt,  very  sensibly, 
the  words,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ; 
and  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  "In  the  afternoon  my 
child  was  buried.  Brother  S.  Sewall  preached  on  the  occa- 
sion. The  weekly  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  my  house  in 
the  evening.  It  was  a  solemn  season.  Spoke  of  my  feelings 
under  our  bereavement,  and  offered  prayer.  Felt  disposed 
to  bless  God  for  his  chastening  rod.  These  words  of  Dr. 
Watts,  in  the  one  hundred  and  nineteenth  Psalm,  were  very 
sweet  to  me :  — 

"  Father,  I  bless  thy  gentle  rod  ; 
How  kind  is  thy  chastising  hand." 

'Thursday,  13th.  This  morning,  missing  my  child  at  break- 
fast, and  thinking  of  her  dying  agonies,  and  of  her  calling, 
"  Pa,  pa,"  wishing  me  to  take  her  —  [these  were  the  last 
words  she  uttered]  —  the  anguish  of  parental  feeling  de- 
prived me  entirely  of  appetite.  But  the  consideration  that 
the  Lord  had  done  it,  and  had  ordered  all  the  circumstances 
of  her  death,  soothed  and  quieted  my  mind  again.  In  the 
morning  devotions  was  importunate  with  God  for  the  conver- 
sion of  my  other  children.  Thought  whether  I  could  not  do 
more  than  I  had  done  for  their  good.  Thought  of  different 
ways  to  arrest  their  attention ;  and  besought  the  Lord  to 
guide  and  assist  me.  In  the  evening,  I  took  my  two  oldest 
children  apart  from  the  family,  and  conversed  and  prayed 
with  them.  Urged  upon  them  the  duty  of  prayer.  They 
appeared  much  affected.'*  i 

The  habit  of  conversing  and  praying  with  the  members  of 

*  This  effort,  it  is  thought,  was  not  in  vain.  Aiympression  of  the 
duty  and  importance  of  prayer  rested  upon  the  minds  of  those  sons, 
and  more  or  less  affected  their  practice.  They  could  not  always  live 
easy  without  trying  to  ask  mercy  of  fiod  ;  and  if,  as  they  hope,  their 


Jan.-May.]  JOTHAM   SEW  ALL.  117 

his  family  separately,  he  continued  more  or  less  for  some 
time.  The  Sabbath  following  this  bereavement,  he  preached 
all  day  from  the  words,  "  Thy  will  be  done."  He  speaks  of 
this  as  a  very  solemn  season  ;  and  says,  ;  I  felt  the  subject 
very  sensibly.  Some  others  also  appeared  to  feel  it.  Did 
hope  and  believe  thaf  some  present  would  be  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth.' 

The  next  day  his  daughter  next  older  was  threatened  with 
an  attack  of  the  same  disease ;  and  he  was  apprehensive  that 
she  also,  in  the  same  distressing  manner,  would  be  torn  from 
him.  <  I  felt  (he  says),  poorly  able  to  bear  such  another  blow 
so  soon.'  The  morning  following,  while  meditating  upon  his 
troubles,  his  thoughts  turned  with  deep  interest  to  the  petition 
of  David,  "  Remove  thy  stroke  away  from  me ;  I  am  con- 
sumed by  the  blow  of  thine  hand."  '  Felt  very  desirous  (he 
says),  that  the  Lord  would  not  contend  with  me  in  the  great- 
ness of  his  anger.  Though  I  felt  that  I  deserved  all  which 
I  feared,  yet  told  the  Lord  that,  if  he  should  be  strict  to  mark 
iniquity  against  me,  I  could  not  answer  for  one  of  a  thousand 
of  my  sins.  Besought  him  to  remember  that  I  was  dust,  and 
lighten  his  hand  from  me.  Felt  an  humble  confidence  that 
he  would,  and  that  my  child  would  recover.' 

No  one,  it  is  thought,  can  doubt  that  the  heart  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  narrative  was  the  seat  of  strong  parental  affection. 
The  foregoing  incidents  unfold  his  character  in  this  particular. 
The  child,  of  which  he  was  so  suddenly  and  distressingly 
bereaved,  was  old  enough  to  understand  something  of  the 
difference  between  right  and  wrong ;  and  had,  like  other 
children,  developed  the  tendencies  of  its  moral  nature.  It 
had  given  evidence,  too  unequivocal  to  be  mistaken  by  an  eye 
enlightened  by  the  Divine  Spirit,  that  it  was  unlike  God,  and 
must  experience  a  moral  renovation  to  fit  it  for  the  purity  of 

hearts  were  subsequently  renewed,  and  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in 
them  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  was,  in  the  case  of  both,  while,  —  in  a  state 
ef  anxiety, —  they  were  attempting  to  pray. 


118  MEMOIR    OF  [1803. 

heaven,  and  prepare  its  opening  mind,  when  released  from 
the  body,  to  delight  in  the  presence  and  service  of  God.  Its 
future  welfare  was,  therefore,  a  just  cause  of  solicitude  to  a 
pious  parent's  heart.  With  eyes  fixed  upon  eternal  realities, 
and  in  some  measure  open  to  behold  them,  the  father  could 
not  be  unmoved  to  see  the  destinies  of  his  child  balancing,  as 
it  were,  upon  a  pivot,  about  to  turn — which  way,  he  did  not 
know.  He  knew  that  she  was  a  sinner ;  and  he  saw  no 
evidence  that  she  was  renewed  ;  and  he  had  no  positive 
assurance  that  God  would  accomplish  this  work.  To  some, 
it  may  seem  that  his  solicitude  for  one  so  young  was  entirely 
misplaced;  since,  as  they  suppose,  a  mere  child  is  scarce- 
ly capable  of  sinning,  or,  at  most,  cannot  merit  banishment 
from  God.  But  the  subject  of  this  narrative  had  too  clear 
views  of  the  reality  and  nature  of  sin,  and  of  the  infinite  holi- 
ness of  God,  to  rest  on  such  a  fallacy  as  this.  He  knew  that 
positive  qualifications  are  requisite  for  heaven  ;  and  that  with- 
out them  no  soul  can  enter.  Those  who  have  no  apprehen- 
sion of  spiritual  and  eternal  things,  or  whose  vision  of  them 
is  less  clear,  may  be  insensible  to  the  liabilities  of  the  soul, 
or  may  repose,  in  undoubting  confidence  of  its  safety,  on  pre- 
sumptions which  have  not  the  shadow  of  a  foundation.  And 
it  is  to  be  feared,  that  the  belief  of  multitudes  respecting  the 
good  estate  of  departing  or  departed  friends  is  precisely  of  this 
character.  But  the  Christian,  who  knows  that  without  holi- 
ness no  man  shall  see  the  Lord,  wishes  for  evidence  on  which 
to  rest  such  a  belief.  And  he  wants  evidence  as  stable  and 
satisfactory  as  the  case  is  important.  He  may  hence  be  alive 
with  sensibility,  and  even  in  a  torture  of  anxiety,  where  others 
are  perfectly  at  ease.  Others,  again,  may  impute  the  solici- 
tude which  existed  in  the  case  before  us,  to  a  want  of  faith. 
They  may  think  that  this  good,  afflicted  man,  had  not  all  the 
confidence  which  he  should  have  had  in  the  covenant  faith- 
fulness of  God  to  his  people,  or  of  the  compassion  of  the 
Saviour  for  children.  Perhaps  this  might  have  been  the  fact. 


Jan.-May.]  JOTHAM  SEWALL.  119 

And  yet  the  belief  of  the  salvation  of  infants  must  be  qualified 
by  the  remembrance  that  infancy  has  a  limit ;  and  that  some- 
where, a  period  commences  where  an  actual  compliance  with 
the  conditions  of  the  Gospel  is  indispensable,  —  a  period 
where  the  mind  has  arrived  at  such  a  maturity,  and  sin  is 
committed  against  such  knowledge,  that  repentance  and  faith 
are  requisite,  in  order  to  forgiveness.  This  point  in  the 
history  of  our  race,  or  of  different  individuals  in  it,  may  be  a 
subject  of  difference  in  opinion ;  and  where  one,  with  a 
charity  bordering  upon  presumption,  may  think  it  far  upward 
in  life,  others,  with  religious  sensibilities  and  apprehensions 
awake,  may  carry  it  much  nearer  to  the  commencement  of 
our  being.  Whether  the  subject  of  this  memoir  had,  at  this 
time,  examined  all  the  points  connected  with  this  subject,  we 
are  not  informed.  Or  if  he  had,  he  might  have  found  it  diffi- 
cult, as  many  have,  to  arrive  at  definite  conclusions  respecting 
some  of  them. 

But  religion,  as  we  see  in  the  case  before  us,  has  power  to 
support  the  mind  under  the  most  trying  circumstances. 
While  it  refines  the  sensibilities,  and  renders  one  capable  of 
the  keener  anguish,  it  yields  Divine  and  heavenly  consola- 
tions. It  teaches  the  soul  to  rest  itself  on  God ;  to  lay  all  its 
cares  and  burdens  at  his  feet ;  to  recognize  his  hand  in  every- 
thing ;  to  trust  in  the  wisdom  and  equity  of  all  he  does ;  and 
to  leave  events  with  him.  It  raises  the  mind  and  heart  above 
the  objects  of  time,  to  the  excellencies  and  glories  of  his  char- 
acter and  government.  It  teaches  the  person  to  feel  that 
there  are  objects  infinitely  higher  and  more  important  than 
merely  the  happiness  of  creatures.  It  inspires  him  with  a 
supreme  desire  that  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified.  It 
trains  him  to  this  feeling,  and  so  purifies  and  elevates  the 
affections,  as  to  lead  him  to  rejoice  in  this  as  the  sum  of  all 
good.  In  one  word,  it  causes  the  soul  to  centre  in  God.  It 
carries  one  out  of  self  to  Him,  and  leads  him  to  rejoice  that  he 
will  be  glorified,  whatever  becomes  of  creatures.  In  this 


120  MEMOIR    OF  [1803. 

thought,  the  devout  Christian  finds  his  heaven.  It  swallows 
him  up.  It  fills  him  with  delight.  And  it  causes  him  to 
acquiesce  in  whatever  God  does,  however  distressing  on  many 
accounts  it  may  be  ;  because  he  knows  that  in  and  by  these 
things  God  will  be  glorified.  He  is  hence  reconciled  and  sub- 
missive under  events,  which  otherwise  might  be  expected  to 
sink  him  in  despondency,  or  drive  him  almost  to  distraction. 
He  knows  that  God  rules ;  and  with  this  he  is  satisfied. 
"Were  his  soul  bound  up  in  creatures,  or  did  it  derive  its  su- 
preme enjoyment  from  them,  then  of  course  it  would  be 
impossible  for  his  happiness  to  consist  with  the  idea  of  their 
suffering.  But  when  the  soul,  rising  above  all  creatures, 
centres  in  God,  it  can  rejoice  that  he  is  glorified,  even  if  this 
great  fact  involves  suffering  to  himself  or  others.  And  the 
fact  that  the  Christian  parent,  whose  affections  and  sensibil- 
ities are  awake  if  those  of  any  person  are,  can  acquiesce  in 
the  loss  of  children  under  circumstances  which  involve  dis- 
tressing fears  respecting  their  future  state,  —  the  fact  that, 
thus  situated,  he  can  feel  that  God  has  done  right,  and  rejoice 
that  he  is  glorified,  —  shows  the  utter  selfishness,  and  shallow- 
ness,  and  falseness  of  the  assertion,  which  is  often  so  confident- 
ly and  triumphantly  made,  that  no  person  can  be  happy  hi 
heaven  if  those  who  are  dear  to  him  on  earth  fail  of  sharing 
the  felicity.  Let  the  higher  affection,  which  is  indispensable 
to  salvation,  take  possession  of  the  hearts  of  those  who  glory 
in  this  sophism,  and  they  would  see  its  fallacy,  and  that  of 
all  the  arguments  which  they  fondly  build  upon  it.  And 
instances  like  the  above  are  by  no  means  of  rare  occurrence. 
A  venerable  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  this  State,*  whose 
memory  is  dear  to  the  hearts  of  many  still  living,  once  had 
his  house  burnt,  and  in  it  his  youngest  son,  a  lad  fourteen 
years  old.  The  father,  had  no  evidence  that  his  child  was 
prepared  for  such  a  sudden  and  dreadful  exit  from  time.  A 

*  Rev.  Jonathan  Scott,  of  Minot. 


May.]  JOT  HAM   SEW  ALL.  121 

few  months  afterwards,  a  young  clergyman,  (from  whose  lips 
the  writer  heard  the  fact,  and  it  made  a  strong  impression  on 
his  youthful  mind,)  conversing  with  the  good  man  about  the 
bereavement,  remarked  that  one  of  the  greatest  consolations 
at  the  death  of  friends,  is  to  have  an  evidence  that  they  are 
prepared  for  heaven.  '  I  have,  (said  the  old  gentleman,)  a 
greater  consolation  than  that.'  Surprised  at  the  remark,  and 
wondering  what  he  could  mean,  the  young  clergyman  asked, 
'  Pray,  sir,  what  is  that  ? '  '  Thou,  Lord,  didst  it,'  was  the 
emphatic  reply !  Oh,  what  sweetness  and  comfort  does  that 
thought  carry  to  the  Christian's  heart  !  How,  under  distress- 
ing events  and  crushing  calamities,  does  it  assuage  its  griefs  ! 
"  TJtou,  Lord,  didst  it !  "  What  more  can  the  wounds  of 
sorrow  need  to  stay  their  bleeding,  and  bind  and  heal  them  ? 
Thou,  infinitely  wise,  infinitely  good,  —  who  never  did,  who 
canst  not,  err,  —  hast  done  it !  Thy  hand  was  in  the  whole. 
Why,  then,  should  I  repine  ?  Why  should  I  wish  the  event 
different,  seeing  thy  wisdom  has  ordered  it  thus  ;  or  why 
should  I  be  restive  and  insubmissive  under  it  ?  There  is  such 
a  thing  as  unreserved  submission  to  God.  Many  hearts  have 
felt  it  under  the  most  trying  events.  Many  saints  beside  Job, 
when,  under  distressing  bereavements,  they  have  lain  torn 
and  bleeding,  have  with  acquiescence  and  adoration  looked 
up  to  heaven  and  said,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away  ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord!  " 

About  the  middle  of  May,  the  subject  of  this  narrative 
made  out  his  report  of  missionary  labor,  and  started  for  Bos- 
ton to  attend  the  anniversary  of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary 
Society.  He  reached  Dr.  Spring's  in  Newburyport  on  Satur- 
day evening,  May  21st.  The  Dr.  proposed  that  he  should 
preach  for  him  the  next  day.  Having  never  addressed  such 
a  congregatiofl,  he  felt  extremely  reluctant,  and  endeavored 
to  get  excused,  but  without  success.  The  next  morning,  he 
was  much  burdened  at  the  thought  of  preaching ;  and,  for 
want  of  a  suitable  place,  his  private  morning  devotions  were 
11 


122  MEMOIR    OF  [1803. 

more  limited  than  he  would  have  chosen  ;  and  he  failed  of 
getting  his  mind  into  such  a  state  as  he  wished.  He  took  a 
subject  in  the  morning  which  he  had  often  handled  without 
difficulty.  But  the  novelty  of  the  situation,  the  size  of  the 
congregation,  and  the  sight  of  his  old  schoolmaster,  Esq.  Pike, 
•who  had  known  him  when  a  boy,  and  whose  seat  was  a  small 
distance  in  front  of  the  desk,  revived  his  natural  timidity,  and 
almost  prevented  his  enjoying  any  freedom.  In  the  after- 
noon, he  was  excused  by  the  presence  of  another  minister, 
who  consented  to  preach.  An  appointment  was  made  for  a 
lecture  in  the  evening,  from  supplying  which  he  could  get  no 
excuse.  But  here  we  will  take  his  own  account :  —  <  Mr. 
Spring  kindly  asked  me,  if  I  did  not  wish  to  be  by  myself 
before  meeting.  Yes,  I  do,  I  replied  with  emphasis.  He 
showed  me  into  a  room,  the  door  of  which  I  locked,  the  blinds 
being  shut.  It  was  just  the  place  I  wanted.  If  ever  I  found 
liberty  at  the  throne  of  grace,  I  enjoyed  it  there.  I  felt  satis- 
fied that  I  should  have  assistance  in  the  duties  of  the  evening. 
The  Lord  heard  my  supplications,  and  went  with  me  to  the 
place  of  worship.  The  assembly  was  larger  than  during  the 
day.  A  number,  as  I  afterward  learnt,  came  in  from  other 
societies.  Five  ministers  were  present.  But  it  was  as  easy 
preaching  to  that  large  congregation,  as  to  a  few  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Maine.  Spoke  from  Rev.  22:  17,  "And  whosoever 
will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely."  The  sentiment  I 
endeavored  to  sustain,  illustrate,  and  apply,  "was,  The  unwil- 
lingness of  sinners  is  all  which  prevents  their  embracing 
Christ  in  the  Gospel.  It  was,  indeed,  a  solemn  season.  This 
sermon  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  a  college 
student  present,  who  subsequently  indulged  hope,  and  devoted 
himself  to  the  ministry  ;  and  for  years  has  occupied  one  of 
the  most  important  stations  in  this  country.'  The  writer  is 
not  at  liberty  to  give  his  name. 

Tuesday,  May  24th,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  in  the  old  State  House,  Boston,  and  made  his 


June.]  JOTHAM  SKWAI. L.  123 

report,  which  appears  to  have  been  received  with  satisfaction. 
In  the  evening  he  heard  a  sermon  before  the  Society  in  Old 
South  Church,  by  Dr.  Austin,  of  Worcester.  The  next  day, 
Ix-MiJe  hearing  the 'election  sermon,' he  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Society,  and  heard  an  animated  discourse  in  the 
evening  by  Dr.  Stillman.  from  Rom.  10  :  14,  15,  "  How  shall 
they  hear  without  a  preacher  ?  and  how  shall  they  preach 
except  they  be  sent  ?  "  After  receiving  a  commission  from 
the  Society  for  a  year,  with  written  instructions  by  Dr.  Em- 
mons,  he  returned  home,  preaching  in  York  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  visiting  and  praying  with  a  number  of  families. 

Sabbath,  June  oth,  he  preached  in  Farmington.  '  Spake 
(he  says),  from  Matthew  2o  :  46,  "  And  these  shall  go  away 
into  everlasting  punishment."  Took  up  the  subject  of  univer- 
sal salvation.  Had  a  desire,  and  trust  I  did  feel,  a  spirit  of 
meekness  in  discussing  the  subject ;  and  ]  do  think  that  the 
Lord  assisted  me  to  lay  the  truth  home  to  the  consciences  of 
my  hearers.  Felt  a  solemn  concern  for  souls.  In  the  morn- 
ing I  felt  quite  unequal  to  the  undertaking.  But  t}ie  Lord 
helped  me  beyond  my  tears.  What  reason  I  have  to  be 
thankful.'  Judging  by  the  vociferous  abuse  which  he  mot  in 
the  evening  from  one  who  had  embraced  the  doctrine  of  uni- 
versalism,  it  is  fair  to  conclude  that,  at  least,  he  disturbed  some 
of  his  hearers. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  June  he  left  home  to  enter  upon  the 
mission  for  which  he  had  received  an  appointment.  This 
mission  differed  in  one  respect  from  those  which  he  had  pre- 
viously performed.  From  the  "  Cent  Society"  *  in  Boston, 

*  This  Socicfv  appears  to  have  been  formed  in  th<j  year  1801.  It 
consisted  of  ladies,  who  eontrilmtcJ  one  cent  a  week  '  to  procure  Bibles, 
Dr.  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymn*,  Primers.  Catechisms.  Divine  Sqngs, 
Token  for  Children,  etc.,'  and  WAS  intended  as  an  aid  to  the  Massachu- 
sette  Missionary  Society,  by  placing  these  and  similar  books  at  she 
disposal  of  its  missionaries.  It  had  a.  number  of  branches  about 
Boston,  and  some  in  .\Liine.  (See  Massachusetts  Missionary  Maga- 
zine. Vol.  ii.  p.  41.) 


124  MEMOIR     OF  [1803. 

he  received  a  quantity  of  books  for  distribution.  'That  ex- 
cellent institution,  the  American  Tract  Society,  was  not  in 
existence  till  some  ten  years  after  this.  It  will  alsp  be  re- 
membered, that  such  publishing  societies  as  the  existence  and 
wants  of  Sabbath  Schools  have  since  called  into  being,  were 
then  unknown.  Religious  books  suited  to  popular  distribu- 
tion were  extremely  rare.  The  present  generation  enjoys  a 
privilege  in  this  r^pect  beyond  the  past,  of  which  many  of 
them,  perhaps,  have  scarcely  thought.  The  books  mentioned 
in  the  note  on  the  last  page,  are,  indeed,  standard  works,  — 
one  of  them  '  the  book  of  books ;'  but  the  smallness  of  the  va- 
riety is  an  instructive  index  of  the  state  of  the  market  at  that 
time.  Possibly,  some  may  like  to  be  informed  that  Janeway's 
Token  for  Children  is  a  collection  of  brief  sketches  of  the 
characters  and  death  of  pious  children. 

A  package  of  these  books  was  forwarded  by  water  to  Hal- 
lowell.  And  the  method  which  the  missionary  took  to  dis- 
tribute them  was  to  fill  his  saddlebags,  and  load  his  horse  ;  and 
when  his  stock  was  exhausted,  return  for  more.  This  was 
the  only  practicable  method.  Waggons,  such  as  are  now  in 
use,  are  an  invention  of  later  times.  And  had  they  been  in 
existence,  the  state  of  some  of  the  roads  travelled  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir,  would  have  rendered  the  employment  of 
them  impracticable.  Such,  also,  was  the  sparseness  of  the 
population  in  the  new  towns,  that  the  method  above  specified 
answered  a  better  purpose  than  many  now,  at  first  thought, 
would  suppose. 

The  first  thing  done  was,  of  course,  to  go  to  Hallowell  and 
equip  himself  for  the  new  department  of  his  work.  He  then 
spent  a  fortnight  in  the  towns  upon,  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Kennebec  river,  above  Augusta,  mostly  on  the  eastern  side, 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath  and  on  week  days,  visiting,  con- 
versing, and  praying,  as  we  have  seen  him  heretofore.  In 
Albion,  which  appears  to  have  been  as  far  north  as  he  now 
went,  he  found  the  seriousness  existing  which  was  awakened 


Jllly-Aug.]  JO  TRAM     SEW  ALL.  125 

.  there  at  his  last  visit.  At  the  expiration  •£  two  weeks  he 
returned  to  Hallowell,  and  fitted  out  for  an  expedition  in  a 
different  direction.  We  next  find  him  visiting  the  towns  of 
Hartford,  Sumner,  Buckfield,  Hebron,  Norway,  Lovell,  Hi- 
ram, and  Albany,  in  Oxford  county,  and  going  as  far  as  Shel- 
burne,  N.  H.  On  his  return  he  visited  Bethel,  Rumford,  and 
Dixfield.  On  this  excursion,  he  fell  in  with  Rev.  Josjma  Crosby, 
a  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the  Massachusetts  Miss.  Society; 
and  they  together,  on  the  fifth  of  August,  organized  a  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Rumford,  consisting  of  three  male  and 
three  female  members.  In  these  early  days  of  the  religious 
history  of  Maine,  when  Congregational  principles  were  not 
as  well  and  as  generally  understood  as  now,  ordained  mission- 
aries appear  to  have  assumed  a  responsibility  which  is  usually 
devolved  on  regularly  constituted  ecclesiastical  councils.  And 
since,  from  the  sparseness  of  the  population,  and  difficulty  of 
collecting  councils,  their  approbation  was  regarded  as  a  suf- 
ficient expression  of  the  fellowship  of  the  churches ;  no  very 
serious  objection  can  be  made  to  this  method  of  procedure. 
At  least,  under  existing  circumstances,  it  answered  the  desired 
purpose ;  and  no  evil,  to  the  writer's  knowledge,  has  grown 
out  of  it.  The  expediency  of  embodying  a  few  pious  persons 
into  a  church,  in  a  new  and  thriving  settlement  where  no 
church  existed,  involved  not  such  grave  points,  and  required 
not  such  wisdom  to  decide  it, as  the  forming  of  another,  where 
one  already  exists.  The  course  pursued  in  cases  of  the  kind 
appears  to  have  been,  to  examine  the  candidates  respecting 
their  qualification  for  church-membership  ;  to  accept  of  those 
who  gave  satisfaction ;  to  ascertain  whether  those  accepted 
were  satisfied  with  each  other,  and  could  walk  together  in 
Christian  love  and  fellowship  ;  to  receive  their  signature,  or 
assent,  to  a  form  of  articles  of  faith  and  covenant :  and  then, 
publicly,  as  a  body,  to  receive,  acknowledge  and  declare  them 
to  be  a  Church  of  Christ. 

In  these  excursions,  our  missionary  visited  schools  more 
11* 


126  MKMOIR  or  [1803. 

frequently  than  before.  Sometimes  lie  would  read  an  account 
from  Janeway's  Token  for  Children  ;  and  then  talk  and  pray. 
Some  of  these  occasions  appear  to  have  been  very  solemn 
and  impressive  to  the  scholars  and  the  teacher.  In  some  in- 
stances, he  left  one  of  these  books  with  the  teacher,  obtaining 
a  promise  that  it  should  be  read  to  the  pupils.  In  a  number 
of  instances',  he  collected  children  for  a  catechetical  exercise. 
In  these,  he  endeavored  to  adapt  his  remarks  to  their  capaci- 
ties ;  and  if  the  parents  were  present,  he  talked  to  them  on 
the  importance  of  religiously  instructing  and  training  their 
children.  How  much  of  the  seed  of  Divine  truth  was  thus  ef- 
fectually sown  in  the  tender  minds  of  the  young,  the  day 
which  discloses  all  things  must  unfold.  The  writer  distinctly 
remembers  the  effect  produced  upon  his  own  mind  by  "The 
Token  for  Children,"  which,  about  this  time,  he  received  as  a 
"  present  from  his  father.  Sometimes,  one  of  the  books  thus 
distributed  was  left  in  a  small  neighborhood,  to  circulate 
through  it. — The  excursion  in  Oxford  county  occupied  a 
month,  and  ended  August  ninth.  A  few  days  were  now 
spent  at  home,  looking  after  the  state  of  the  church,- and  the 
interests  of  religion  in  the  neighborhood.  Two  instances  of 
the  use  he  made  of  the  covenant  faithfulness  of  God,  which 
occurred  during  these  few  days,  and  which  are  specimens  of 
his  manner  in  this  respect,  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader. 
A  difficulty  between  two  members  of  the  church  had  been 
acted  upon,  and  disposed  of  by  an  admonition  to  the  offender. 
Two  days  after,  at  a  conference  preparatory  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  the  other  expressed  his  dissent  from  the  decision,  and 
appeared  seriously  aggrieved.  Such  a  disaffection,  especially 
at  just  such  a  time,  was  peculiarly  trying  to  the  virtual  pastor, 
under  whose  care  and  labor  the  church  had  principally  grown 
up.  '  I  carried  the  matter  to  God  in  secret  (he  says),  and 
with  much  confidence,  rolled  the  burden  upon  him,  and  told 
him  I  had  done  what  I  could  for  a  reconciliation,  and,  as  it 
Droved  in  vain,  he  must  interfere.  He  had  said, "  Call  upon 


Aug.]  JOTIIAM    SEW  ALL.  127 

me  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  I  will  answer  thee."  Never  in 
my  life,  I  think,  did  I  rest  for  ifelp  with  greater  confidence 
upon  the  promises  of  God.  Oh,  how  good  is  God  ! '  The 
other  instance  is  a  matter  of  smaller  importance ;  but  it  shows 
how  he  looked  to  God  for  everything,  and  received  every 
favor  as  coming  from  the  Divine  hand.  One  day  he  unex- 
pectedly received  two  dollars,  which  he  greatly  needed  to 
make  up  a  payment  to  a  man  who  had  been  laboring  for  him. 
1  I  had  often  cast  the  matter  upon  God,  (he  says,)  and  told 
him  that  he  must  provide  for  my  temporal  affairs,  and  pay  my 
hired  men,  etc. ;  and  I  find  it  is  not  in  vain  to  trust  in  the 
Lord.'  An  instance  of  the  Divine  faithfulness  in  supplying 
his  necessities,  he  found  on  the  following  day.  Needing  to 
have  his  horse  shod,  he  called  on  a  smith  where  he  expected 
to  get  it  done  on  a  neighbor's  account ;  but  not  finding  him 
at  home,  was  obliged  to  go  to  another,  —  having  no  money  to 
meet  the  expense.  Calling  elsewhere  while  the  work  was 
being  done,  a  man  paid  him  fifty  cents,  which  he  said  was  due 
on  an  old  subscription  for  preaching.  '  I  received  it  (he  says), 
as  from  the  hand  of  God,  to  supply  my  present  wants.' — 
"  Whoso  is  wise,  and  will  observe  tliese  things,  even  they  shall 
understand  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord." 

On  the  18th  of  Angust  he  started  again.  He  now  ascended 
the  Kennebeck,  from  Hallowell,  on  the  west  side,  as  far  as 
Bloomfield,  —  visiting  Belgrade  and  TVaterville  on  his  way. 
Many  hearts  in  the  latter  place,  have  cause  to  thank  God  for 
the  difference  between  its  present  state  and  that  in  which  he 
found  it.  Giving  a  lecture,  and  spending  a  night  in  the  vil- 
lage, he  says :  '  Can 't  find  as  there  is  a  Christian  in  the  place ; 
am  told  that  numbers  of  the  inhabitants  are  deists.'  And  he 
added  the  prayer,  'Oh  that  God  would  exert  his  power,  and 
convert  souls  here.'  That  prayer  has  been  answered.  The 
passing  stranger  may  now  find  there  a  Baptist,  a  Methodist, 
and  a  Congregational  church,  with  pastors, —  or  a  constant 
supply,  (perhaps  Christians  of  other  orders),  and  a  flourishing 
college. 


128  MEMOIR    OP  [1803. 

The  missionary  whose  track  we  are  now  following,  crossed 
the  Kennebeck  at  Bloomfield,  and  proceeded  eastward  as  far  as 
Palmyra.  Before  reaching  Shepardstown,  (now  St.  Albans,) 
he  travelled  nine  miles  without  passing  a  house  ;  the  road  so 
bad,  part  of  the  way,  that  his  horse  came  near  being  mired  in 
the  sloughs,  though  he  led  him  through  them  all.  He  speaks 
of  the  settlement  in  this  place  as  having  commenced  about 
four  years  previous ;  and  it  then,  contained  some  twenty 
families.  Here,  as  in  other  places,  he  preached  and  dis- 
tributed books.  Proceeding  to  what  was  then  Vaughans- 
town,  now  Harmony,  he  passed  through  another  nine  miles 
of  wilderness  unblest  by  a  human  habitation.  He  visited 
one  family  four  miles  distant  from  any  neighbor.  In  these 
new  and  destitute  places,  he  distributed  quite  a  number  of 
books,  which  were  gladly  and  thankfully  received.  We  next 
find  him  at  Norridgewock,  where,  being  about  to  preach  and 
administer  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  rose  between  three  and  four 
o'clock  on  Sabbath  morning,  to  spend  an  hour  in  self-examina- 
tion. The  direction  of  the  Apostle,  ';  Let  a  man  examine 
liimself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread  and  drink  of  that 
cup,"  possessed  in  his  view  a  high  degree  of  practical  impor- 
tance ;  and  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of  his  life,  he 
appears  never  to  have  come  to  the  Supper  without  a  previous 
season  of  self-examination.  The  other  places  he  visited  dur- 
ing this  tour,  were  Fairfield,  Watery ille,  Albion,  Vassalboro, 
Belgrade,  Starks,  and  Industry.  Of  a  lecture  he  preached  in 
Albion,  from  Lk.  14:  17,  "Come,  for  all  things  are  now 
ready,"  he  says  :  '  Truly,  it  was  a  solemn  season.  The  word 
seemed  to  go  ^with  power.  Many  appeared  impressed.  Felt 
an  earnest  wrestling  in  prayer  for  God  to  accomplish  some- 
thing farther  here.'  He  preached  again  before  leaving.  In 
this  tour,  from  which  he  returned  the  sixteenth  of  September, 
he  had  spent  four  weeks. 

On  the  twentieth,  he  started  on  a  visit  to  the  easterly  part 
of  the  State.  In  the  morning  'he  prayed  privately  with  his 


Sept.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  129 

wife,  and  then  with  his  children.  And  then  of  family  prayer 
he  says,  '  My  whole  soul  flowed  out  to  God  in  begging  spirit- 
ual blessings  for  my  family  and  others,  and  committing  all  to 
God.  It  was  an  uncommon  season  to  my  soul.'  On  the 
twenty-second  and  twenty-third,  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the 
Ministerial  Association  at  Alna.  Beside  the  existence  of 
some  special  religious  interest  in  the  place,  three  persons  ap- 
plied to  the  Association  for  advice  respecting  the  expediency 
of  devoting  themselves  to  the  study  of  theology,  preparatory 
to  the  ministry.  These  things  so  affected  his  mind,  that,  on 
the  morning  of  the  second  day,  having  slept  only  about  four 
hours,  he  arose  soon  after  the  appearance  of  light,  and  retired 
to  wrestle  with  God" for  the  conversion  of  souls  in  the  place, 
and  that  the  Association  might  have  guidance  in  their  delibe- 
rations, and  be  directed  to  a  right  issue  on  the  important  ques- 
tions submitted  to  them  for  advisement.  The  next  Sabbath 
he  spent  at  Albion,  —  and  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  baptizing 
three  adults  and  thirteen  children ;  and  here,  on  ihe  Thurs- 
day following,  (September  29th,)  he  and  Rev.  Mr.  McLean 
embodied  a  church  of  seven  members. 

For  some  time  he  had  wished  to  spend  a  day  in  private 
fasting  and  prayer ;  but  the  pressure  of  ministerial  duties 
had  prevented.  On  Monday,  the  27th,  he  retired  to  the 
wood  for  this  purpose.  '  In  the  former  part  of  the  day,  (he 
says,)  felt  rather  dull.  But  afterward,  God  helped  me  to  get 
very  near  to  him.  Pleaded,  even  to  en  agony,  for  more  holi- 
ness, and  for  better  ministerial  qualifications.  Besought  God, 
by  the  bitter  agonies  of  Christ,  by  his  gracious  promises,  and 
by  the  infinite  good  which  might  accrue  to  my  own  and  other 
souls  in  consequence  —  to  advance  the  work  of  sanctification 
within  me.  "With  all  my  soul,  made  a  fresh  dedication  of  my 
heart,  understanding,  conscience,  memory,  eyes,  ears,  mouth, 
lungs,  hands,  feet,  and  all,  to  God,  to  be  used  entirely  in  his 
service.'  Whatever  others  have  supposed,  he  found  not  per- 
fection in  holiness  an  easy  attainment.  Few,  it  is  believed, 


130  ME  MO  in  OF  [1803. 

have  struggled  and  prayed  with  greater  earnestness  for  sanc- 
tification  than  he.  And  yet,  sin  would  cleave  to  him.  Like 
the  great  Apostle,  he  found  it  deeply  wrought  into  his  very 
nature.  The  truth  is  believed  to  be,  that  what  would  have 
satisfied  many  as  constituting  perfect  holiness,  was  far  from 
satisfying  him.  His  views  of  the  infinite  purity  of  God,  and 
the  extent  and  spirituality  of  his  law,  were  far-reaching,  and 
would  not  allow  him  to  sup[>ose  that  any  simple  sincerity  of 
design,  or  fervor  of  love,  which  came  short  of  the  extent  of 
his  ability,  or  was  interrupted  or  'mixed  with  any  alloy,  could, 
in  the  view  of  Infinite  Holiness,  constitute  such  an  attainment. 

Proceeding  on  his  journey,  he  passed  through  Jefferson, 
Waldoboro,  and  Union,  laboring  as  he  went,  and  struck  Pe- 
nobscot  Bay  at  Caraden.  He  speaks  of  this  place  as  contain- 
ing somewhat  more  than  a  hundred  families  ;  as  having  a 
decent  meeting-hftuse,  but  no  church  of  any  denomination, 
and  only  a  few  scattering  professors. 

Ascending  the  bay  and  the  river,  he  crossed  the  latter  at 
Bucksport,  and  descended  the  eastern  side  to  its  mouth. 
Thence  he  went  on  to  Long  Island  in  Penobscot  Bay,  and 
thence  on  to  Fox  Islands.  In  these  places  he  labored  about 
twenty  days.  Some  special  attention  to  religion  had  existed 
in  both  these  places,  and  had  not  entirely  passed  ;  and  none, 
it  is  thought,  who  have  read  his  history  thus  far,  can  doubt 
that,  under  God,  he  was  helpful  in  the  good  work.  An  in- 
cident which  occurred  ai  one  of  the  latter  islands,  shows  how 
painful  to  his  conscience  was  a  failure  of  becoming  interest 
and  earnestness  in  dispensing  Divine  truth.  Toward  the 
close  of  a  lecture  on  Sabbath  evening,  the  solemnity  and  en- 
gagedness  which  he  had  felt  in  prayer,  and  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  discourse,  diminished.  '  This,  (he  says.)  troubled 
me  much.  I  retired  after  meeting,  and  wept  some  time  before 
God,  and  besought  him  not  to  blast  my  endeavors,  or  forsake 
me  in  such  an  important  undertaking.  Pleaded,  to  an  agony, 
for  some  success.'  The  next  morning  also  he  '  besought  God 


Oct. -NOV.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  131 

for  personal  sanctification.  Pleaded  that  I  was  his,  and  he 
had  promised  that  sin  should  not  have  dominion  over  me ; 
and  begged  him  to  undertake  the  great  work  and  complete  it.' 

After  returning  to  the  main  land,  he  forwarded  some  books 
in  advance  of  him,  by  water,  from  Castine  to  Addison.  It  is  one 
characteristic  of  his  present  mission,  that  he  proceeded  more 
leisurely  than  when  he  traversed  nearly  the  same  ground  two 
years  before  ;  and  laboring  with  not  less  diligence  and  devot- 
edne^i,  he  was  enabled,  it  is  hoped,  to  accomplish  more.  In 
proceeding  from  Pleasant  River,  he  occupied  nearly  a  month. 
And  it  gives  us  an  idea  of  the  difference  between  the  past  and 
the  present,  as  well  as  of  the  difficulties  encountered  by  the 
missionary  in  a  new  region,  to  be  told,  that  in  visiting  Mount 
Desert  Island,  he  forded  the  narrows  from  the  main  land. 

"When  he  had  reached  Pembroke,  he  varied  from  the  course 
he  previously  took,  by  visjting  Robbinston  and  Calais.  At 
the  latter  place,  he  crossed  the  St.  Groix  into  N.  Brunswick ; 
and  making  a  short  pedestrian  tour  to  St.  David's,  preached 
a  lecture,  made  a  few  calls,  and  returned.  At  Calais  he  then 
preached  twice,  and  appears  to  have  felt  much  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls.  In  secret  he  entreated  God  not  to  send  him 
back  without  effecting  something,  for  those  who  were  perish- 
ing in  sin. 

Passing  down  the  river,  he  spent  a  few  days  at  Eastport. 
On  leaving  that  place,  he  landed  at  the  Indian  settlement  on 
Pleasant  Point,  and  called  on  the  French  Roman  Catholic 
priest  who  was  laboring  among  them.  He  says  :  '  He  treated 
me  very  politely,  and  invited  me  to  dine  with  him.  At  table, 
he  asked  me  to  '  say  grace ; '  and  added  to  the  blessing  I 
craved,  his  '  Amen,'  crossing  himself  upon  the  breast,  repeat- 
ing something  which  I  did  not  understand,  and  closed  by  say- 
ing in  English, '  by  the  sign  of  the  cross.'  I  asked  him  if  he 
waft  willing  I  should  preach  to  the  Indians.  He  observed 
that  I  must  learn  their  language,  or  they  could  not  understand 
me,  and  I  should  speak  to  the  desert ;  but,  if  they  could  un- 


132  MEM  OIK     OF  [1803. 

derstand  me,  he  supposed  that  as  I  held  to  some  tenets  differ- 
ent from  himself,  he  should  have  to  tell  them  otherwise  again. 
I  conversed  with  him  some  upon  the  new  birth,  purgatory, 
etc.  He  granted  that  a  man  must  be  born  again  in  order  to 
go  to  heaven,  but  insisted  that  it  was  done  in  baptism.  In 
proof  of  this,  he  quoted  Christ's  words  to  Nicodemus,  "  Except 
a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,"  etc.  He  said, 
that  as  Christ  had  joined  the  water  and  the  Spirit,  we  ought 
to  suppose  that  the  Spirit  was  conferred  in  baptism ;  and  as 
Christ  directed  his  disciples  to  baptize  all  nations,  we  ought 
to  suppose  the  ordinance  to  be  of  great  importance  to  their 
salvation.  Among  other  things,  I  replied,  that  if  such  was 
the  design  of  baptism,  the  Eunuch,  the  Jailer,  Lydia,  the 
three  thousand,  and  those  who  had  received  the  Holy  Ghost, 
needed  it  not.  His  answer  was,  that^God  Almighty  had  not 
instituted  baptism  for  nothing ;  that  he  had  joined  it  in  his 
word  with  the  Spirit,  an$  we  ought  not  to  dispute  this  union. 
But,  said  I,  do  we  not  find  many  of  the  baptized  whose  char- 
acters are  among  the  worst  ?  Yes,  said  he  ;  but  that  is  be- 
cause they  do  not  improve  the  grace  given  them.  Enough  is 
conferred  in  baptism,  if  duly  improved,  to  save  them ;  but 
they  misimprove,  fall  away,  and  perish.  In  support  of  the 
doctrine  of  purgatory,  he  said  that  Christ's  declaration  that 
blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  not  be  forgiven  in 
this  world,  nor  in  the  world  to  come,  implied  that  some  sins 
will  be  forgiven  there ;  that  the  saving  "so  as  by  fire  "  of  those 
who  build  wood,  hay,  and  stubble  on  the  true  foundation,  im- 
plied a  state  of  purgation  beyond  the  grave ;  and  Christ's 
going  and  preaching  to  the  spirits  in  prison  he  thought  was 
full  to  the  point,  and  suggested  that  all  who  died  before  Christ 
came  were  not  released  till  that  time.  I  pitied  him.  But 
again  I  thought,  how  many  thousands  of  protestants  are  as 
dark,  and  blind,  and  inconsistent  as  he.'  And  it  is  surely  to 
be  regretted,  that  one,  whose  mind  was  manifestly  not  unin- 
formed, should  adopt  a  theory  which  involves  the  Saviour  in 


Jan.  1804.]  JOTHAM  SEWALL.  133 

the  gross  mistake  of  representing  Abraham  and  Lazarus  in 
heaven  —  when  they  were  in  purgatory. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  closed  the  year  and  com- 
menced the  next  at  Dennysville.  The  first  day  of  the  new 
year  was  Sabbath  ;  and  he  preached,  forenoon  and  afternoon, 
from  Jer.  28 :  16,  "  This  year  thou  shalt  die."  He  says, « I 
do  not  think  I  ever  had  a  more  solemn  day.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  the  declaration  would  be  fulfilled  on  some  then  pres- 
ent, —  it  might  be  myself.  And  I  afterward  learned  that 
two  or  three  embraced  in  the  congregation  died  before  the 
year  expired.  Several,*  it  is  believed,  received  a  death-blow 
spiritually,  whose  subsequent  conversion  laid  the  foundation 
for  the  present  Congregational  church  in  that  place.' 

The  next  day  he  devoted  to  private  fasting  and  prayer. 
The  following  particulars  exhibit  the  themes,  which,  in  their 
order,  were  the  subjects  of  his  supplication  ;  and  the  passage 
of  Scripture  specified  was  read  in  connection  with  each :  —  - 

t  1.  The  things  for  which  God  contended  with  me  the  past 
year :  [referring  to  what  he  supposed  to  be  sins  for  which 
God  had  afflicted  him.]  Jer.  ii. 

'  2.  Seek  for  a  sanctified  benefit  from  past  afflictions  and 
present  trials,  and  to  be  prepared  for  any  which  may  be  futura. 
Heb.  xii. 

'  3.  Confess  sin,  original  and  actual,  of  my  youth  and  riper 
years,  before  and  after  conversion,  and  the  past  year  parti- 
cularly, and  implore  forgiveness.  Ps.  li. 

'  4.  Confess  my  great  deficiencies  in  preaching,  (the  year 
past  especially,)  and  entreat  greater  measures  of  sanctifica- 
tion,  and  more  stability,  and  courage,  and  greater  gifts.  2 
Cor.  iv. ;  1  Tim.  iii. ;  2  Tim.  iv. ;  Titus  ii. 

'  5.  My  family's  temporal  affairs ;  my  children's  conduct 
and  education  while  I  am  absent ;  in  particular,  their  religious 
instruction,  and  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Ps.  xxxvii. 

*  As  many  as  six,  as  it  afterwards  appears. 
12 


134  MEMOIR     OF  [1804. 

'  6.  That  my  wife  may  have  wisdom  and  grace  to  govern 
and  instruct  them  ;  that  we  may  be  preserved  while  separated, 
meet  again  in  this  world,  our  enjoyments  be  sanctified,  and 
we  be  prepared  for  separation,  if  either  of  us  should  be  called 
to  die  this  year.  1  Cor.  vii ;  Ps.  cxxiii. 

'  7.  The  church  to  which  I  belong,  and  the  neighborhood. 
Isa.  Ix ;  Ps.  cxxii. 

1  8.  The  establishment  in  Chesterville  of  the  stated  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel  and  the  administration  of  its  ordinances : 
a  meeting-house,  etc.  Ps.  cxxxii. 

'  9.  The  interest  of  religion  in  this  place,  a  Gospel  church, 
etc.  Isa.  xxxv. 

'  10.  This  family,  —  parents,  children,  and  servants.  [He 
was  at  a  Mr.  Lincoln's.]  Ps.  68 :  5,  6. 

'  11.  Missionary  Society  ;  the  church  at  large  ;  the  land, 
and  the  world.  Isa.  xxvi. 

'  Closed  with  Psalms,  xx,  and  cxxxiv.' 

There  was  no  room  for  time  to  hang  heavily  on  the  hands 
of  one,  who,  with  a  devout  heart,  had  so  many  interesting  ob- 
jects before  him.  The  reader  will  somewhat  naturally  expect 
to  see  what  follows :  — '  Had  a  good  day.  My  heart  felt  the 
most  deeply  interested  in  things  which  related  to  my  family, 
and  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  vicinity  of  my  residence.  I 
seemed  to  have  a  special  application  of  the  words  in  Ps.  cxxviii, 
"  And  thou  shalt  see  the  good  of  Jerusalem  all  the  days  of 
thy  life.  Yea,  thou  Shalt  see  thy  children's  children,  and 
peace  upon  Israel." '  And  what  his  faith  thus  anticipated,  his 
eyes  literally  saw  —  the  good  of  Jerusalem  all  his  days;  all 
his  children,  who  arrived  at  adult  years,  hopefully  pious,  and 
with  hopefully  pious  wives  and  husbands ;  and  some  ten  or 
eleven  of  his  grand-children  professedly  fearing  and  serving 
the  God  of  their  fathers.  It  is  hoped  that  this  remark, — which 
is  intended  to  verify  the  vision  which  faith  seemed  to  present 
to  his  view,  and  which  is  made  with  humility  and  with  devout 


Jan.]  j  o  T  n  A  M   s  F,  w  ALL.  135 

thanksgiving  and  praise  to  God  for  his  great  and  unmerited 
mercy,  —  will  not  he  regarded  as  ostentatious. 

Much  was  doubtless  added  to  the  interest  and  profit  of  this 
day  of  priv;ite  devotion,  by  the  ordej*  observed.  Defirriteness 
and  variety  were  thus  secured ;  and  the  mind  did  not  flag,  or 
its  fervor  become  diffused,  and  vanish  among  vague  generali- 
ties. And  much  was  added  to  the  usefulness  and  enjoyment 
of  the  life  of  the  devoted  man  before  us,  by  the  methodical 
manner  in  which  he  accustomed  himself  to  think  and  act. 
The  frequency  with  which  he  preached  may  have  led  tfcp 
reader  to  suppose  that  there  could  not  be  much  thought,  regu- 
larity, or  variety  in  his  sermons.  But  this  would  be  an  er- 
roneous deduction  from  the  premises.  His  mind  was  naturally 
logical,  comprehensive,  and  strong.  Few  men  could  grasp  a 
subject  more  readily,  or  see  its  different  points  and  bearings. 
Ordinarily  it  required  but  little  time  for  him.  to  strike  out  a 
train  of  thought  on  a  passage  or  subject  on  which  he  wished 
to  speak,  containing  at  once  instruction  and  variety.  The 
plan  of  exercises  for  the  day  we  have  just  reviewed,  which 
was  struck  off  beforehand,  and  probably  about  as  quick  as  his 
rapid  pen  could  move,  is  no  mean  evidence  of  this.  And 
the  view  here  given  is  also  sustained  by  the  fact,  that  occa- 
sionally,—  once  in,  perhaps,  a  hundred  or  two  of  sermons, 
certainly  not  more  frequently,  —  he  is  found  lamenting,  after 
the  delivery,  that  a  certain  point  in  his  subject  was  not  suf- 
ficiently digested.  It  is  proper  here  also  to  say,  though  he 
preached  so  often  and  in^  so  many  places,  it  is  comparatively 
rare,  during  the  first  years  of  his  ministry,  that  he  used  the 
same  text  twice. 

The  devotions  of  the  day  occupied  him  till  a  little  after  sun- 
set. Then,  taking  a  little  refreshment,  he  preached  from 
Matthew  22  : 12, '"And  he  was  speechless."  He  enjoyed  a 
solemn  season  ;  and  the  assembly  generally  appeared  im- 
pressed. After  meeting,  he  conversed  with  a  number  whose 
minds  were  somewhat  tender ;  and  by  the  lecture  and  the 


136  MEMOIR     OF  [1804. 

conversation,  the  impressions  of  the  day  previous  were 
probably  deepened. 

The  next  day,  accompanied  by  another,  he  came  through 
the  wood  to  Machias,  toiling  at  the  rate  of  two  .and  a  half 
miles  an  hour,  through  a  damp,  heavy  snow,  fourteen  inches 
deep,  which  had  fallen  the  day  previous,  and  over,  around, 
and  under  windfalls  and  bushes  loaded  and  bent  down  with 
snow,  and  without  any  track  for  the  first  twelve  miles.  This 
was  done,  in  part  at  least,  to  fulfil  an  appointment  for  an 
evening  lecture.  It  is  no  wonder  that  he  was  not  expect- 
ed. But  a  little  sending  round  collected  an  assembly  to 
which  he  preached. 

As  he -returned,  he  visited  most  of  the  towns  through  which 
he  passed  in  going  eastward,  and  reached  home  on  the  twelfth 
of  February,  having  been  absent  nearly  five  months.* 

In  ten  days,  he  started  again,  and  spent  the  time,  till  the 
last  of  March,  principally  in  the  towns  upon  and  about  the 
Penobscot  river,  —  going  eastward  as  far  as  Orland  and  what 
is  now  East  Brewer,  and  northward  some  eighteen  miles  above 
Bangor,  on  the  Kenduskeag  stream.  In  Orrington  he  found 
persons  under  serious  impressions,  whose  attention  had  been 
arrested  by  the  preaching  of  a  Mr. Couch,  who  was  laboring  in 
that  region  under  the  auspices  of  the  same  Society  with  him- 
self. In  Dixmont  also,  (then  called  Collegetown.)  some  were 
under  awakenings,  who  soon  after  became  pious,  and  were 
pillars  in  the  Congregational  church  subsequently  formed. 

On  the  tenth  of  April  he  left  again,  and  spent  four  weeks 
in  towns  upon  the  Kennebeck,  chiefly  on  the  western  side.  In 
Anson  he  found  some  special  religious  interest,  and  a  few 
cases  of  recent  hopeful  conversion.  Here,  on  the  nineteenth 

*  At  GouldsHorough.  on  his  return  on  the  fourteenth  of  January,  he 
finished  his  "  Poem  on  Baptism,''  which  was  afterward  printed.  He 
has  left  a  little  manuscript  of  his  poetical  effusions.  Much  of  it.  in- 
deed, is  prose  in  verse  ;  but  some  of  if  certainly  ranks  higher.  A  few 
specimens  would  he  given  in  this  volume,  if  space  would  allow. 


May.]  JOTHAM   SEW  A  LI..  137 

of  the  month,  assisted  by  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Samuel 
Sewall,  he  organized  a.  Congregational  church  of  six  mem- 
bers, to  which,  in  a  few  days  afterward,  he  received  three 
other  persons  and  administered  to  it  on  the  following  Sabbath, 
April  twenty-second,  the  Lord's  Supper.  This  was  probably 
the  first  administration  of  that  ordinance  in  that  newly  in- 
habited place. 

The  last  week  in  May,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
Massachusetts  Missionary  Society  at  Boston ;  and  the  account 
which  he  gave  of  his  labors,  appears  to  have  been  highly 
satisfactory  to  the  Society.*  According  to  his  statement, 
(which  appears  to  embrace  a  whole  year,  and  probably  covers 
a  little  more  time  than  he  regarded  himself  as  strictly  in  the 
employ  of  the  Society),  he  '  preached  four  hundred  and 
twelve  times:  made  four  hundred  and  eighty-two  family 
visits  ;  visited  twenty-three  schools  ;  attended  twelve  church 
conferences ;  admitted  thirty-five  persons  to  church-fellowship ; 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  nine  times ;  baptized  three 
adults,  and  fifty-five  children  ;  attended  eleven  prayer-meet- 
ings ;  catechised  children  twice;  observed  three  days  of 
private  fasting  and  prayer ;  attended  three  ministerial  asso- 
ciations ;  and  assisted  in  gathering  two  churches.'  In  the 
performance  of  these  labors,  he  '  travelled  two  thousand  five 
hundred  and  fifty-five  miles.'  While  he  was  in  Boston,  he 
preached  a  preparatory  lecture  in  the  Old  South,  for  Dr.  Eckley, 
—  and,  on  his  return,  passed  a  Sabbath  in  Salem,  preaching 
for  Dr.  Hopkins  and  Dr.  Worcester. 

After  returning  from  Boston,  he  labored  till  near  the  mid- 
dle of  September,  in  towns  in  the  counties  of  Kehnebeck, 
Somerset,  Franklin,  and  Oxford.  On  the  thirtieth  of  August, 
he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  S.  Sewall,  assisted  by  brethren 
from  Norridgewock,  N.  Sharon,  and  Anson,  embodied  a  church 
in  Starks  of  ten  members.  On  the  sixth  of  September,  a 

*  See  account  of  the  meeting.  Massachusetts  Missionary  Magazine, 
Vol.  ii.  p.  C. 

12* 


138  MEMOIR    OP  [1804. 

few  persons  were  examined  in  Temple,  with  a  view  of  being 
organized  into  a  church.  But  two  out  of  the  live  who  were 
accepted,  being  undismissed  members  of  'other  churches, 
further  action  was  postponed. 

September  llth,  he  left  home  for  an  eastern  tour,  taking  a 
meeting  of  the  Ministerial  Association,  at  Phipsburg,  in  his 
way.  At  this  meeting  he  was  requested  to  preach.  '  I  felt 
(he  says),  somewhat  reluctant ;  but  went  alone,  and  cried  to 
God  for  help,  and  I  trust  he  afforded  it.  Spake  from  Ezekiel 
37  :  4.  Many  were  affected.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped 
me.'  The  evening  of  the  next  day,  after  having  conversed 
with  several  who  appeared  tender,  he  had  a  peculiarly  solemn 
season  in  family  prayer,  wrestling  with  God  for  the  conver- 
sion and  salvation  of  souls.  The  following  Sabbath  he 
preached  at  Bath.  During  the  day  he  enjoyed  a  comfortable 
measure  of  the  Divine  presence.  In  the  evening,  as  large  a 
congregation  collected  as  at  the  previous  services,  which  he 
addressed  from  Rev.  6: 17,  "  The  great  day  of  his  wrath  is 
come  ;  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand  ?  "  '  And  truly,  (he 
adds,)  it  was  a  most  solemn  season.  Eternity  looked  near, 
time  short,  and  souls  precious.  Many  tears  were  shed,  and 
some  sobs  were  heard  in  the  assembly.  Oh,  what  reason  of 
thankfulness  have  I  for  this  opportunity.' 

In  his  eastern  tour,  which  occupied  him  till  the  last  of 
November,  he  passed  over  the  same  ground  in  general,  which 
he  had  traversed  twice  before ;  going  as  far  as  the  river  St. 
Croix,  and  visiting  Calais  and  Eastport.  And  he  was  now 
permitted  to  rejoice  in  finding  some  happy  fruits  of  his  previ- 
ous labors.  In  Northport,  a  few  had  hopefully  embraced  the 
Saviour  who  were  awakened  by  his  preaching  the  autumn 
previous.  The  reader  will  recollect  the  solemn  day  which  he 
had  at  Dennysville  at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  There,  also, 
he  found  some,  who  at  that  time  were  pricked  in  the  heart, 
now  consecrated  to  the  service  of  Christ.  How  great  a  work 
might  have  been  accomplished  in  either  of  these  places,  es- 


Sept.-Nov.]  JOTHAM  SEWALL.  139 

pecially  the  latter,  if  lie  had  remained  on  the  ground  at  the 
time,  and  followed  up  the  impressions  which  were  made,  it  is 
impossible  to  say.  The  pious  reader  has  often  doubtless 
wished,  before  this,  that  he  had  thus  done.  But  experience 
lias  taught  some,  lessons  respecting  the  best  method  of  con- 
ducting missions,  which,  in  the  then  infant  state  of  the  enter- 
prize,  could  not  be  expected  to  be  as  well  understood  as  now. 
The  herald  of  the  Cross  seemed  then  to  do  little  more  than 
sow  the  seed,' bury  nig  it  as  deep  as  he  could  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  his  hearers  by  the  fervor  and  earnestness  with 
which  he  dispensed  it ;  and  then  leave  it  to  grow  if  it  would, 
or  be  crushed  and  destroyed,  or  caught  away  and  lost.  But 
the  rich  mercy  of  God  suffered  not  his  promise  to  fail,  — "  He 
that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall 
doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with 
him."  i 

Whatever  error,  however,  existed  in  this  particular,  there 
was  a  virtue  connected  with  it  which  we  cannot  but  admire. 
In  carrying  to  his  fellow-men  the  invitations  of  the  Gospel, 
the  subject  of  these  remarks  '  went  out  into  the  highways  and 
hedges,'  as,  perhaps  comparatively,  few  have  done.  This,  as 
has  previously  appeared,  is  true,  both  as  it  relates  to  visiting 
and  preaching.  In  passing  through  the  wood  from  Machias 
to  Denny sville,  on  his  present  mission,  he  stopped  and  preached 
to  two  families,  who  appear  now  to  have  broken  in  upon  its 
solitude.  On  his  return,  he  went  down  to  the  mouth  of  Pleas- 
ant River,  twelve  miles  by  water,  and  spent  a  Sabbath  at  a 
place  called  Cape  Split.  Here  he  enjoyed  a  solemn  season. 
The  people  were  attentive,  and  several  of  them  much  affected. 
He  speaks  of  having  enjoyed  uncommon  .solemnity  in  prayer, 
and  of  having  been  led  to  wrestle  with  God  importunately, 
for  the  conversion  of  souls  in  the  place. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  county  of  Washington,  he  met  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Oliver,  a  Congregational  missionary ;  and.  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  October  a  meeting  was  held  by  them  at  Pern- 


140  MEMOIR    OF  [1804. 

broke,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  forming  a  Congregational 
church.  A  few  were  examined,  who  gave  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  piety,  and  were  satisfied  with  each  other.  But  some 
of  them  not  feeling  prepared  for  the  act  of  a  public  profession, 
the  matter  was  deferred.  This  backwardness  in  those  who 
gave  evidence  of  piety  openly  to  profess  Christ,  and  the  con- 
sequent failure  of  the  formal  erection  of  the  standard  of  the 
cross  by  the  organization  of  a  church,  was  a  great  trial  to  the 
feelings  of  our  missionary.  In  private,  he  carried  the  matter 
to  God ;  and,  with  many  tears  and  much  earnestness,  besought 
a  favorable  issue.  '  Felt,  (he  says,)  such  a  spirit  of  prayer 
for  the  establishment  of  a  church  here,  that  I  firmly  believed 
it  would  take  place,  and  could  tell  God  without  hesitation, 
that  I  believed  he  would  do  it.  I  felt  the  strength  afforded 
by  these  passages :  "  Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father,  in 
my  name,  I  wilF  do  it1;"  "  All  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive."  He  again  laid  the  af- 
fair before  God,  in  secret,  with  much  freedom,  and  reminded 
him  of  his  promises,  and  believed  that  he  would  bring  about 
the  object.  And  he  added,  '  Oh,  what  a  privilege  it  is  to  have 
a  God  to  go  to,  and  that  he  will  admit  such  a  creature  as  I  am 
to  such  nearness  to  him,  and  allow  me  to  cast  all  my  burdens 
upon  him.' 

At  Bluehill,  on  the  fourteenth  of  November,  he  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  Hancock  and  Waldo  Ministerial  Association, 
and  heard  the  singular  intelligence  that  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  of 
Sedgwick,  and  a  large  portion  of  his  church,  had  become 
Baptists.  Mr.  M.  was  at  the  meeting,  and  gave  him  some 
account  of  the  things  which  had  changed  his  opinion.  This 
gave  him  some  unpleasant  feelings ;  '  but  again,  (he  says,)  I 
felt  composed,  realizing  that  all  things  are  ordered  by  Infinite 
Wisdom.'  In  Hamden,  he  enjoyed  a  season  of  much  interest 
in  preaching  from  the  words,  "Mighty  to  save,"  Isa.  63:  1. 

During  a  fortnight  which  he  spent  at  home  after  returning 
from  this  tour,  he  appears  to  have  felt  much  for  the  spiritual 


Dec.]  JOTHAMSEYTALL.  141 

good  of  his  neighbors.  He  visited,  conversed,  and  prayed 
Avith  most  of  them  ;  and  was  at  pains  to  call  on  one  of  them 
for  these  purposes  before  breakfast,  knowing  that  he  would 
be  absent  immediately  afterward. 

December  llth,  he  left  again  for  a  short  journey  eastward, 
going  as  far  as  Unity.  Here,  on  the  14th,  with  the  assistance 
of  two  persons  from  Albion,  who  were  probably  delegated  for 
that  purpose,*  he  formed  a  church  consisting  of  nine  members, 
to  which,  before  he  left  the  place,  he  admitted  three  others. 
One  of  these  last  was  awakened,  and  brought  now  to 'give  good 
evidence  of  piety,  by  having  been  rejected  when  an  attempt 
was  made  in  the  place  a  year  previous  to  organize  a  church. 
Had  that  person  been  then  received,  he  would  probably  have 
settled  down  on  a  false  hopey  and  there  remained  till  death. 
Another  also  who  was  rejected  at  that  time,  was  found  with 
such  views  of  Divine  truth,  and  in  such  a  state  of  anxiety,  aa 
inspired  the  hope  that  a  work  was  commenced  within  him 
which  would  end  in  saving  conversion.  The  exercise  of 
Christian  faithfulness  may  be  sometimes  trying  ;  and  a  pur- 
blind charity  may  plead  against  it ;  but  it  is  the  only  safe  and 
prudent  course. 

As  the  close  of  the  year  was  approaching,  the  missionary 
before  ijs  seemed  more  than  ordinarily  anxious  to  fill  up  his 
fleeting  days  with  labor  for  Christ  and  souls.  He  preached 
fmiuently  thrice  a  day,  and  sometimes  for  more  than  one  day 
in  succession.  He  regarded  no  weather,  which  would  be 
encountered  in  the  pursuit  of  worldly  business,  a  sufficient 
excuse  for  neglecting  the  public  worship  of  God ;  and  the 
occurrence;  of  a  snow-storm,  which  lasted  all  day,  did  not 
prevent  him  from  lecturing  three  times,  riding  four  miles  to 
the  first,  and  the  same  distance  to  each  of  the  other  two. 

During  a  short  space  of  time  which  he  spent  at  home  in 
the  commencement  of  the  year  1805,  he  appears  to  have  felt 

*  One  of  tin-so  wn<  Mr.  Dunicl  Lovcjoy,  .afterward  an  excellent, 
devoted,  and  useful  minister. 


142  MK3IOIK     OF  [1805. 

much  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  family.  On  the  ninth 
of  January,  he  made  the  following  entry  in  his  diary :  '  In 
family  prayer,  entreated  God  to  visit  my  family,  and  renew 
my  children.  Pleaded  the  promise,  "  I  will  be  a  God  to  thy 
seed."  Have  done  the  same  often  of  late,  and  I  think  in  the 
exercise  of  faith.  Pleaded  also  the  rea<Jiness  of  Christ,  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh,  to  visit  families  where  persons  were 
sick  or  dead,  when  requested.  Besought  him  to  tt£  as  com- 
passionate to  the  souls  of  his  poor  creatures,  now  he  is  in 
heaven,  as  he  was  to  their  bodies  while  on  earth.  The  words 
of  the  father,  "  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help  thou  my  unbelief,"  I 
used  with  feeling  and  earnestness.' 

And  here  it  is  proper  to  say,  that  he  considered  the  wor- 
ship of  God  in  the  domestic  circle  as  highly  important.  And 
he  seems  to  have  regarded  the  service,  not  as  one  which  the 
head  of  the  family  was  to  perform  while  its  members  were  to 
be  mere  spectators,  but  as  an  acknowledgment  of  God  in 
which  each  sustained  a  share  ;  and  if  any  of  his  family  was 
absent,  he  was  pained,  as  if  that  one  had  failed  to  render  the 
due  acknowledgment.  To  avoid  this,  in  two  instances  while 
he  was  now  at  home,  when  a  son  was  obliged  to  leave  before 
the  customary  season  of  worship,  and  on  a  no  more  important 
duty  than  to  '  build  the  fire  in  the  school-house,'  he  first  took 
him  aside,  and  prayed  with  him  privately.  It  is  true,  there 
was  another  idea'beside  thai  of  acknowledgment.  It  was  the 
moral  influence  of  worship  upon  the  mind.  Of  this  he  was 
extremely  unwilling  that  his  children,  in  any  instance,  should 
fail.  And,  on  these  accounts,  he  was  much  grieved  when  he 
found  professors  of  religion  neglecting  family  worship,  or 
careless  about  the  attendance  of  their  children.  And  often 
do  we  find  him  exhorting  and  admonishing  parents  for  such 
'neglects  ;  and  striving,  with  great  earnestness,  to  bring  them 
to  the  performance  of  this  duty.  And  it  is  believed,  that  in 
nil  his  travels,  he  seldom  entered  a  house  where  the  head  of 
tlio  family  was  reputedly  pious,  without  ascertaining  whether 


Jan. -Feb.]  JOTHA.M   SEW  ALL.  143 

the  domestic  altar  was  served  or  otherwise.  It  is  proper  also 
here  to  be  said,  so  important  did  he  consider  the  maintenance 
of  the  worship  of  God  in  his  own  family,  that  soon  after  he 
became  a  missionary,  he  took  a  pious  widow  with  her  two 
daughters  into  his  hodse ;  giving  her,  for  many  years,  the 
use  of  two  rooms  which  he  had  finished  for  the  purpose ; 
furnishing  her  with  fuel,  which  his  sons  generally  prepared ; 
and  allowing  her  gratuitous  access  to  his  fruitful  orchard ; 
that,  while  he  thus  discharged  a  duty  of  Christian  kindness 
toward  one  who  had  no  relatives  this  side  of  Nova  Scotia, 
the  excellent  woman  might  call  upon  God,  morning  and 
evening,  with  his  household. 

About  the  middle  of  January,  he  left,  and  labored  a  few 
weeks  in  towns  upon  the  Penobscot.  And  it  would  certainly 
now  be  regarded  as  a  hopeful  indication,  could  there  be  seen 
in  any  congregation  such  an  interest  in  the  special  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel  as  was  manifested  in  what  is  now  Brewer ; 
where,  in  the  old  meeting-house,  on  a  cold  day,  —  and  meet- 
ing-houses were  then  without  stoves,  —  the  whole  congrega- 
tion tarried  to  witness  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. On  his  return,  at  Winthrop^  where  he  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  Association,  he  1'ecords  the  shock  of  an  earth- 
quake on  the  8th  of  February,  at  half-past  nine  o'clock  A.  M. 

From  his  return  to  near  the  middle  of  July,  with  the 
exception  of  attending  the  anniversaries  at  Boston  in  May, 
he  spent  the  time  at  and  about  home,  extending  his  labors 
into  Somerset  county  on  the  one  hand,  and  Oxford  on  the 
other.  But  the  reader  must  not  infer  that  because  he  thus 
seemed  to  hover  around  the  centre  of  his  domestic  attractions, 
he  was  less  active,  or  diligent,  or  faithful  in  the  service  of  Ids 
Divine  Master.  He  always  found  work  enough  to  do,  and 
scarcely  allowed  himself  any  time  for  rest  or  relaxation.  The 
motto  of  Him  who  once  was  censured  for  apparent  disregard 
to  the  feelings  of  earthly  relatives,  seems  to  have  been  his  : 
"  Wot  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business  ?  " 


144  ME  MO  IK     OF  '1805. 

We  have  frequently  had  opportunity  to  notice  the  deep  inter- 
est he  felt,  in  the  orderly  deportment  of  Christians,  and  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  churches.  He  appears  to  have 
felt  much  as  Paul  did,  when,  pressed  by  "  the  care  of  all  the 
churches,"  he  exclaims,  "  Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ? 
who  is  offended,  and  I  burn  not  ?  "  And  during  the  period  at 
which  we  are  now  glancing,  a  draft  was  made  on  his  piety 
and  effort  in  reconciling  difficulties  which  had  arisen  between 
brethren,  and  in  seeing  to  the  maintenance  of  discipline.  And 
in  these  attempts  he  was  generally  successful.  We  cannot, 
indeed,  but  think,  that  the  churches  in  the  vicinity  are  deeply 
indebted  to  his  fidelity  in  this  respect.  Young,  and  feeble, 
and  without  pastors, —  had  no  one  looked  after  them  in  this 
particular,  animosities  unremoved,  and  offences  unrebuked, 
might  have  proved  deeply  disastrous,  if  not  absolutely  ruin- 
ous. But  with  all  these  trials,  he  had  the  happiness  of  wit- 
nessing some  growth  to  these  infant  churches.  To  the  church 
in  Anson,  be  received  five  members  ;  to  the  church  in  Bloom- 
field,  three  ;  to  the  church  in  New  Sharon,  one  or  two  ;  and  to 
the  church  in  Rumfbrd,  two. 

To  these  general  remarks  on  the  period  before  us,  we  add 
a  few  items  of  more  or  less  interest  to  the  reader.  Sabbath, 
February  24th,  he  baptized  two  children  ;  one  of  them  his 
own.  The  following  is  the  record  of  God's  goodness  to  him 
on  the  interesting  occasion  :  '  Truly  it  was  a  solemn  season. 
Think  I  can  say  that  God  met  with  me  in  the  duty,  and  made 
it  sweet.  Felt  a  sense  of  my  unworthiness  to  belong-to  Christ's 
family,  and  be  thus  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  his  house. 
Rejoiced  in  the  unchangeable  nature  of  God's  covenant,  and 
that  he  keeps  it  to  a  thousand  generations.  He  spake  to 
Abraham  and  his  seed  forever  ;  and  he  has  condescended  to 
be  my  God  and  the  God  of  my  offspring.  "  Is  this  the  man- 
ner of  men,  O  Lord  God  ?  " 

The  next  day  he  observed  as  a  season  of  private  fasting 
and  prayer.  '  Spread  the  following  things  before  God :  — 


Feb.-July.]  JOTHAM   SEW  ALL.  145 

<  My  own  native  depravity  and  imperfections  of  life.  Read 
Psalm  li,  and  Romans  vii,  and  viii.  In  the  dust  of  abasement 
confessed  my  sins  of  nature  and  life,  and  fled  to  the  blood  of 
Christ  as  my  only  refuge. 

'  Want  of  ministerial  gifts,  and  success  in  the  great  work. 
Read  some  of  Timothy  i,  and  ii,  and  Titus. 

1  My  wife  and  children.  Read  Isaiah  liv,  appropriating  it 
to  myself  and  family.  Used  many  arguments  with  God  in 
prayer  for  my  children.  Tried  to  take  hold  of  that  promise, 
"  And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord ;  and  great 
shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children." 

'  The  state  of  our  church.  Read  Revelation  ii,  and  iii, 
and  Psalms  Ixxx,  Ixxxi,  and  xlvi. 

'  My  engaging  in  the  Baptist  controversy.  Read  and  ap- 
propriated Isaiah  54 :  14,  to  the  end.  It  was  a  good  day. 
Trust  I  was  enabled  to  exercise  much  faith  in  relation  to 
some  of  these  things.  Closed  by  blessing  God  for  the  season.' 

On  the  last  of  the  above  items  it  is  proper  to  say  that  his 
Poem  on  Baptism  had  been  printed,  and  answered  by  elder 
Tripp,  and  that  he  had  replied.  From  subsequent  intimations 
in  his  diary,  it  is  also  probable  that  he  thought  of  answering 
the  published  sermons  of  Rev.  D.  Merrill,  of  Sedgwick, 
on  this  subject.  Such  an  undertaking,  however,  the  reader 
may  be  assured  he  would  by  no  means  have  contemplated, 
without  a  firm  persuasion  that  the  cause  of  Christ  required 
it.  He  observed  another  private  fast  in  June,  but  has  not 
been  specific  in  the  objects  to  which  the  day  was  appro- 
priated. 

In  his  customary  journey  to  Massachusetts  in  May,  he 
preached  in  Newburyport,  Salem,  and  Marblehead.  In  the 
latter  place,  where  most  of  the  men  are  fishermen  or  sailors, 
it  was  rather  a  novelty  to  see  before  him  an  assembly  of  be- 
tween one  and  two  hundred  women,  with  only  one  male  coun- 
tenance except  the  pastor  and  an  accompanying  minister. 

13 


146  MEMOIR     OF  [1805. 

After  laboring  a  few  weeks  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence 
—  he  left  on  the  12th  of  July,  for  an  excursion  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State.  On  the  24th  of  that  month,  himself 
and  Rev.  Mr.  McLean  formed  a  church  of  nine  members  in 
what  is  now  Bingham.  Thence,  that  he  might  visit  the  new 
settlements,  he  passed  through  Athens,  Harmony,  and  some  of 
the  unincorporated  towns  northwest  of  Bangor,  and  came-  to 
the  Penobscot  at  the  latter  place.  From  a  back  neighborhood 
in  the  town  of  Hancock,  also,  (which  he  reached  by  the  lower 
route  from  Bangor,)  accompanied  by  two  men,  he  went  through 
to  Mariaville  ;  and,  either  from  obstructed  roads,  or  want  of 
roads,  some  clearing  had  to  be  done  to  allow  his  horse  to  pass. 
Here,  on  the  12th  of  August  he  preached,  and  was  told  that 
it  was  the  first  sermon  ever  delivered  in  the  place.  The  set- 
tlement then  contained  twelve  families, —  but  he  could  not 
find  that  any  person  professed  religion.  Here  he  was  joined 
by  Mr.  Samuel  Sewall,  (a  cousin  of  his  wife,  afterward  settled 
in  Sumner)  —  who,  with  Mr.  Daniel  Lovejoy,  was  licensed  at 
Hallowell,  on  the  20th  of  June  previous,  and  was  associated 
with  him  in  this  mission. 

Proceeding  through  Sullivan  to  Columbia,  he  found  that 
here  and  in  Addison  a  revival  of  religion  had  been  enjoyed, 
which,  it  was  feared,  was  about  to  close.  The  reader  will  be 
gratified  by  an  extract  from  his  diary,  which  shows  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  endeavored  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
Christians  and  others  the  importance  of  laboring  to  retain  the 
gracious  influences  of  the  Spirit.  The  remarks  appear  to 
have  been  made  at  the  close  of  meeting.  '  Suppose  numbers 
were  in  a  state  of  confinement  for  some  capital  crime,  exposed 
to  the  severity  of  the  law.  A  messenger  is  sent  to  adminis- 
ter pardon.  He  begins  and  liberates  some  ;  but,  by  the  mis- 
conduct of  the  culprits,  he  attempts  to  leave.  What  a  crying 
there  would  be  after  him !  One  would  cry  out,  Here  is  my 
poor  wife  yet  in  chains ;  and  unless  relieved,  she  must  be 
hanged,  or  die  in  her  confinement.  Oh !  return  and  set  my 


July -Nov.]  JOTHAM    SEWALT, .  147 

poor  children  at  liberty,  say  other  broken-hearted  parents. 
And,  O,  here  is  my  poor  husband,  says  a  tender-hearted  wife, 
etc.  It  affected  several,  and  my  own  soul  also  ;  and  soon  ray 
thoughts  turned  to  my  own  wife,  [not  yet  pious,]  my  children, 
church,  and  town ;  and  I  longed  to  be  in  some  retired  place, 
that  I  might  yield  to  my  feelings,  and  pour  out  my  cries.  As 
soon  as  I  might,  I  retired  into  the  wood,  and  cried  to  God 
with  earnest  wrestlings  for  them,  particularly  for  my  own 
family.  And  I  felt  as  if  I  could  cheerfully  trust  God  for  the 
answer  of  my  petitions.'  The  next  day  found  him  possessing 
the  same  feelings.  '  Entreated  earnestly  for  my  neighbors 
and  family.  Poured  out  more  longings  to  God  for  my  poor 
wife.  Besought  him,  that  as  he  had  promised  those  who 
leave  wife  and  children  for  his  sake  and  the  Gospel's,  should 
receive  in  this  life  brethren,  and  sisters,  etc.,  he  would  give 
me  a  spiritual  sister  in  my  dearest  earthly  friend.' 

And  while  he  longed  for  spiritual  blessings  upon  his  family, 
he  was  equally  desirous  to  be  a  spiritual  blessing  to  others. 
This  is  what  we  are  to  understand  as  the  meaning  of  his 
prayer,  when,  at  Eastport,  he  besought  the  Lord  to  give  him 
some  work  to  do  there,  or  send  him  elsewhere,  and  not  suffer 
him  to  spend  precious  time  in  vain. 

In  this  mission,  he  spent  from  the  latter  part  of  August  to 
near  the  close  of  October  in  the  easterly  part  of  Washington 
County.  Nor  was  he  contented  to  confine  himself  within  the 
limits  of  the  State.  He  made  a  number  of  brief  visits  to  the 
adjacent  parts  of  New  Brunswick.  Three  times  we  find  Mrn 
on  Campobello,  and  once  on  Deer  Island.  More  than  once 
he  was  in  St.  Andrews,  preaching  in  the  village,  and  above  it 
on  the  St.  Croix.  From  Calais,  he  visited  and  preached  in 
St.  Stephen's,  St.  David's,  and  Milltown  on  the  English  side. 
From  Eastport,  he  had  quite  a  romantic  excursion  into  St. 
George.  He  went  by  water,  twenty-five  miles,  to  the  mouth 
of  Magaguadavik  River,  and  ascended  it  four  "miles  to  the 
head  of  tide-water.  Here  he  preached  to  an  attentive  con- 


148  MEMOIR     OP  [1805 

gregation.  The  next  morning,  he  took  a  view  of  the  Falls, 
with  its  steep  and  ragged  sides,  and  the  precipices  which  sur- 
round it.  He  went  up  the  river  eight  miles,  and  preached 
twice ;  and  walked  a  mile  and  a  half  farther  to  view  the 
mills.  Returning  the  next  day,  he  preached  half-way  down 
toward  the  Falls.  Leaving  the  latter  place,  he  proceeded 
westward,  twelve  miles,  along  the  head  of  Passamaquoddy 
Bay.  to  a  place  in  St.  Patrick,  called  Buckabuck.  Here  he 
preached  from  Luke  16:  23.  He  enjoyed  a  very  solemn 
time,  and  numbers  were  much  affected.  Four  miles  farther 
by  water  brought  him  to  a  short  '  carrying  place,'  whence, 
from  a  fresh-water  pond,  he  descended  into  the  St.  Croix, 
and  landed  at  Robinston.  A  friend  who  accompanied  him  in 
this  excursion,  took  with  him  a  birch  canoe,  which  was  quite 
convenient  for  some  parts  of  it. 

In  Eastport,  near  the  middle  of  October,  he  unexpectedly 
received  a  request  from  a  committee  to  remain  there  a  while. 
He  appears  not  to  have  contemplated  a  long  absence  from 
home ;  and  this  brought  a  trial  upon  his  mind.  The  next 
morning  he  says  :  '  Rose  rather  before  daylight,  and  retired 
into  a  wood.  Spread  the  matter  before  God,  and  besought 
him  to  direct  me.  Thought  I  felt  willing  to  forego  all  worldly 
and  private  considerations,  if  thereby  I  might  be  instrumental 
of  good  to  souls ;  and  there  heartily  spread  out  my  whole 
soul,  with  all  its  powers,  before  God,  to  be  used  in  his  service, 
for  the  conversion  of  souls,  or  for  otherwise  benefiting  his 
erfhse.'  The  importance  of  labor  in  other  places  at  this  time; 
seems  to  have  induced  him  to  decline  this  request. 

An  event  which  here  occurred  showed  his  desire  to  avoid 
needlessly  wounding  the  feelings  of  Christians  of  other  de- 
nominations. The  Calvinist  Baptist  denomination  prevailed 
here,  and  something  had  been  said  of  the  expediency  of 
organizing  a  Congregational  Church.  At  the  close  of  the 
services  of  a  Sabbath  on  which  he  had  preached  in  the  Baptist 
meeting-house,  he  requested  the  church  to  stop.  He  then 


July -Nov.]          JOTIIAM  SEW  ALL.  149 

asked  them  whether  they  admitted  any  to  their  communion 
who  were  not  baptized  by  immersion.  They  answered,  '  No.' 
'  Is  it  likely  that  you  ever  will  ? '  '  It  is  not.'  '  There  are 
several  persons  in  this  vicinity  who  are  not  satisfied  with 
close  fellowship,  and  some  who  hold  to  infant  baptism :  have 
you  any  objection  to  their  uniting  together  by  themselves  ? ' 
All  who  spake  gave  free  consent. 

During  the  time  that  he  spent  in  Washington  County,  he 
observed  two  seasons  of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  The  first 
he  retired  to  a  wood,  but  observed  only  the  ibrenoon,  as  he 
had  been  requested  to  attend  a  funeral  on  Campobello.  '  God 
helped  me,  (he  says,)  to  lay  a  number  of  things  before  him, 
and  plead  for  their  accomplishment.  But,  with  the  most  im- 
portunity, carried  the  case  of  my  dear  wife  to  God ;  and  I 
think  I  was  never  assisted  to  get  nearer  to  him  in  her  behalf 
than  at  this  time.  Besought  with  agony.  Told  the  Lord  of 
my  long  waiting,  —  now  more  than  eighteen  years  I  had 
been  looking  and  hoping  for  her  conversion.  Told  him  I  was 
tired  of  waiting,  and  entreated  him  to  hasten  the  accomplish- 
ment of  my  desires  respecting  her,  or  give  me  more  patience. 
Told  him  I  could  not  let  him  go  without  a  blessing  for  her. 
And  it  seemed  afterward  that  these  were  some  of  the  last 
strangles  I  should  have  for  her,  —  some  of  the  last  throes  I 

CO  ' 

should  experience  before  she  would  be  born  into  the  kingdom ; 
and  I  could  not  help  rejoicing  in  belief  of  the  accomplished 
event.'  Let  not  any  humble  Christian,  who  has  long  pleaded 
for  a  particular  blessing,  be  discouraged,  or  think  his  prayers 
not  accepted,  because  not  speedily  answered,  when  he  is  told, 
that  these  intercessions,  and  those  of  eighteen  previous  years, 
remained  apparently  unnoticed  for  many  years  after  this. 
The  faith  of  Abraham  was  long  tried  ;  and  yet  God  intended 
to  bestow  the  blessing,  and  did  bestow  it.  We  wish  also  here 
to  suggest  that  it  might  be  improper  for  any  to  censure  the 
apparent  freedom  used  with  God  in  the  above  interview,  who 
have  not  themselves  been  exalted  to  a  high  state  of  childlike 
13* 


150  iiEMOiu  OF       .  [1805. 

intimacy  with  him.     Large  measures  of  the  spirit  of  adoption 
may  produce  effects  which  few,  comparatively,  understand. 

The  other  season  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  on  a  special 
occasion.  The  question  of  embodying  a  church  in  Dennys- 
ville  came  before  him  under  circumstances  which  rendered 
decision  upon  it  trying  and  difficult.  _  The  candidates  were 
desirous  of  being  embodied  ;  but,  upon  examination,  he  found 
that  most  of  them  were,  in  sentiment,  open  communion  Bap- 
tists. They  had  been  baptized  in  infancy,  (though  upon  '  the 
hah1- way  covenant,')  and  wished  to  be  immersed.  He  was 
alone,  and  must  take  upon  himself  the  entire  responsibility  of 
proceeding  or  refusing  to  act.  He  knew  not  how  the  case 
would  be  viewed  by  Christians  and  ministers  generally,  or  by 
the  Society  whose  missionary  he  was ;  but  especially  what 
would  be  pleasing  to  God  in  the  case.  He  needed  guidance 
from  above,  that  he  might  preserve  a  conscience  void  of 
offence  toward  God  and  toward  man.  In  seeking  a  place  for 
retirement,  he  was  shown  a  barn  in  a  meadow  remote  from 
any  other  building.  Thence  he  repaired.  Sensible  that  if 
he  regarded  iniquity  in  his  heart,  God  would  not  hear  him, 
he  first  confessed  his  sins  of  nature  and  practice,  of  youth  and 
riper  years,  before  and  after  conversion,  and  besought  forgive- 
ness through  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  He  then  implored 
the  quickening  grace  of  God,  and  assistance  in  prayer,  while 
he  spread  before  him  the  state  of  things  in  the  place.  He 
fervently  sought  direction  ;  '  and,  (he  says,)  think  I  exercised 
some  faith  that  my  petitions  would  be  granted  ;  for  it  is  said, 
"  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find."  Be- 
sought God  also  for  my  family,  and  the  cause  of  Christ  at 
home.  Gave  my  whole  soul  to  God,  to  be  made  use  of  in  his 
service,  for  the  good  of  others.  It  was  a  good  day  to  me. 
Toward  the  close  especially,  my  soul  was  all  drawn  out  to 
God  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  things  I  had  asked.  Felt 
a  sweet  resting  upon  the  promises :  "  They  that  trust  in  the 
Lord  shall  be  as  Mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  moved ; "  and, 


July- Nov.,  Dec.]  JOTHAM  SEWALT,.  151 

"  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed 
on  thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee,"  were  delightful  places 
of  repose  to  my  soul.'  Final  action  in  the  case  did  not  occur 
till  nearly  a  fortnight  afterwards.  And  it  would  seem  that 
some  change  had  taken  place,  either  in  the  persons  of  the 
candidates,  or  their  opinions ;  for,  of  the  ten  who  were  em- 
bodied into  a  church,  only  four  were  immersed.  The  church 
was  formed,  Sabbath,  October  27th,  and  the  Lord's  Supper 
administered  to  it. 

Reaching  the  Penobscot  in  his  return,  he  ascended  it  as  far 
as  Sunkhaze,  now  Milford.  Here  he  found  a  settlement  of 
twenty-four  families.  He  preached  twice,  —  but  could  not 
learn  that  the  settlement  embraced  a  single  pious  person.  On 
the  27th  of  November  he  returned  to  bless  his  house,  having 
been  absent  four  and  a  half  months. 

Soon  after  his  return  home,  we  find  this  entry  in  his  diary : 
'  Cannot  but  remark  and  record  the  goodness  of  God  to  my 
soul  for  several  days  past.  The  words,  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him 
in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee,  because  he 
trusteth  in  thee,"  have  often  occurred  as  descriptive  of  my 
feelings.  May  be  it  is  a  preparation  for  approaching  trials; 
O  that  all  things,  whether  prosperous  or  adverse,  may  serve 
to  take  away  sin.' 

The  anticipation  here  expressed  was  soon  realized.  In  a 
few  days  afterward,  that  fell-disease,  canker-rash,  seized  his 
youngest  child,  an  infant  daughter,  and  in  less  than  a  week 
laid  her  lovely  form  motionless  in  death.  His  belief  in  God's 
covenanted  mercy  to  his  people  was  strong ;  and  yet  he  knew 
that  his  child,  in  common  with  others  of  the  race,  possessed  a 
sinful  nature,  and  must  be  renewed  and  purified  to  fit  it  for 
the  bliss  of  heaven.  And  when  he  saw  the  grim  messenger 
approaching  to  tear  her  from  his  embrace,  he  retired  a  num- 
ber of  times  during  the  day  and*  evening,  previous  to  her 
death  ;  and  with  great  earnestness  besought  God  to  renew  her 
soul,  and  if  about  to  remove  her  from  time,  to  take  her  to 


152  MEMOIR    OF  [1805. 

himself;  — and  in  doing  this,  his  faith  seized  upon  the  promise, 
"  I  will  be  a  God  to  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee ; "  and 
used  it  in  fervent  supplication.  And  when  her  last  short  breath 
had  been  taken,  and  her  spirit  had  fled,  he  retired  again,  and 
acknowledged  God's  holy  hand  in  the  bereavement,  and  en- 
treated that  it  might  be  sanctified  to  him  and  his.  The  fol- 
lowing Sabbath,  he  preached  from  the  text,  "  He  hath  done 
all  things  well."  Mark  7  :  37.  So  earnest  was  his  desire  for 
the  sanctification  of  this  event  to  his  family,  that  a  short  time 
after,  on  rising  in  the  morning,  we  find  him  spending  nearly 
an  hour  in  prayer  with  his  wife.  Of  this  he  says  :  '  Had  an 
uncommon  season  in  pleading  for  her  ;  and  could  not  but  hope 
that  a  prayer-hearing  God  would  appear  in  her  behalf.' 

Soon  after  this,  he  became  lame,  by  a  severe  inflammation 
resulting  from  an  injury  in  the  leg.  But  this  was  not  allowed 
materially  to  interfere  with  his  public  duties.  Lectures  were 
preached,  and  church  conferences  attended.  And  though 
when  a  Sabbath  morning  came  near  the  close  of  December, 
it  prevented  him  from  rising  at  daylight  and  retiring  to  a 
wood,  as  he  wished,  for  self-examination  and  prayer,  —  it  did 
not  prevent  him  from  preaching  and  administering  the  Lord's 
Supper  that  day,  though  he  was  obliged  to  do  it  in  a  sitting 
posture,  with  his  suffering  limb  supported  in  a  horizontal 
position  before  him.  Nor  when  Wednesday  evening  came, 
would  he  be  denied  the  privilege  of  the  customary  prayer- 
meeting,  though  to  reach  a  near  neighbor'?,  he  had  to  be  con- 
veyed in  a  sleigh ;  and  when  he  arrived,  found  no  one  to 
assist  him  in  the  exercises. 


CHAPTER  V. 


LABORS   AT   PORTLAND. AT    BLOOMFIELD. MISSIONS    IN 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AND  RHODE  ISLAND. 

* 

AN  extract  from  his  diary  for  January  1,  1806,  may  not 
be  uninteresting  to  the  reader.  '  This  morning  completes 
forty -six  years  of  my  life.  More  than  twenty-two  were  spent 
in  an  unconverted  state,  though  not  without  convictions.  How 
long  did  God  wait  with  me !  And  since  my  conversion,  how 
imperfect  my  life  has  been  !  Upwards  of  eighteen  years  have 
passed  since  I  entered  the  marriage  state  ;  and  more  than 
seven  since  I  was  licensed  to  preach.  In  every  station  and 
relation,  how  defieie'nt  I  have  been  —  as  a  single  person,  a 
husband,  a  father,  a  private  Christian,  and  a  preacher  !  My 
only  refuge  is  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  I  have  lost  one 
dwelling-house  by  fire,  and  buried  four  children,  and  -expe- 
rienced other  chastisements.  But  for  them  all  I  have  reason 
to  be  thankful,  as  they  were  sent,  I  think,  in  covenant  love 
and  faithfulness.  God,  also,  has  mercifully  afforded  his  pre- 
sence and  support  under  them.  I  have  reason  this  morning 
to  set  up  an  Ebenezer,  and  say,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord 
helped  me."  To  the  same  faithful  hand  would  I  commit  the 
remainder  of  my  days.  Enjoyed  a  very  solemn,  tender 
season  in  family  prayer  this  morning.' 

The  27th  of  this  month  ho  observed  as  a  day  of  private 
fasting  and  prayer.  The  reasons  for  doing  this  were, '  The 
broken  and  scattered  situation  of  our  church ;  the  want  of 
wisdom  to  carry  into  effect  some  difficult  parts  of  discipline 


15^  MEMOIR     OF  [1806. 

now  on  hand ;  to  seek  direction  on  the  question  of  remaining 
at  home  or  going  on  a  mission  the  coming  season  ;  to  seek  an 
increase  of  faith  if  God  should  call  me  to  trust  nakedly  upon 
his  providence  for  temporal  "support ;  to  implore  the  outpour- 
ing of  God's  Spirit ;  to  entreat  the  conversion  of  my  wife  and 
children,  etc.  In  the  duties  of  the  day,  found  much  encour- 
agement to  trust  in  God  for  temporal  support,  should  it  be 
my  duty  to  tarry  at  home,*  as  some  things  seem  to  indicate. 
Was  favt>red*with  much  importunity  in  pleading  for  grace  to 
carry  into  effect  church  discipline.' 

It  is  here  proper  to  say,  that  frequent  notices  of  his  deep 
anxiety  for  the  conversion  of  the  members  of  his  family  ap- 
pear about  this  time.  At  one  time,  we  find  him  pleading 
Avith  such  earnestness  for  his  children  in  family  prayer,  as  to 
be  unwilling  to  close  the  season  of  devotion.  At  another, 
toward  the  end  of  the  year,  intense  solicitude  found  its  way 
into  the  visions  of  the  night,  disturbing  his  repose.  While  his 
body-  required  rest,  his  soul  was  awake  ;  and,  fancying  him- 
self to  be  at  work  with  two  of  his  sons,  such  distress  for  their 
salvation  came  over  him,  that  he  was  forced  to  drop  the  im- 
plement he  was  using,  and  fall  upon  his  knees ;  and  there  the 
strength  of  his  emotion  forbade  all  utterance,  except  brief  ex- 
clamations, till  the  agony  of  his  feeling  awaked  him.  He 
was  anxious  also  to  keep  their  minds,  as  much  as  might  be, 
under  religious  influences ;  and  when  the  older  children  were 
attending  singing-school,  he  not  unfrequently  prayed  with  the 
younger  before  they  retired  for  the  night,  and  the  older  after 
they  returned. 

During  rather  more  than  half  this  year,  he  labored  in  differ- 
ent towns  in  the  counties  of  Somerset,  Oxford,  Kennebeck, 
and  (what  is  now)  Franklin,  taking  journeys  to  the  distance 
of  thirty  miles,  more  or  less,  and  allowing  himself  little  time 
with  his  family.  He  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be  idles  and 

*  That  is.  take  no  mission,  nnd  hence  labor  without  much  com- 
pensation. 


June-Sept.]  JOTHAM   SEWALL.  loo 

it  sometimes  makes  one  tremble  for  the  result  to  follow  him. 
as  with  the  lameness  just  mentioned,  or  having  a  hoarse  cold, 
and  in  spite  of  it  travelling  and  preaching  from  one  to  three 
times  a  day.  He  did  not,  indeed,  neglect  the  little  domestic 
appliances  which  might  tend  to  relieve  him,  or  medical  pre^ 
scriptions  when  deemed  needful.  But  he  scarcely  remained 
in  one  place  long  enough  for  their  proper  effect.  And  when 
these  had  received  some  hasty  attention,  one  looks  after  him 
with  somewhat  of  the  feeling  he  would  have  in  watching  a 
vessel  in  a  storm,  expecting  to  see  it  reel  and  founder,  or 
bring  up  upon  a  sunken  reef  or  a  lee  shore.  But  his  Creator 
had  blessed  him  with  an  excellent  physical  constitution  ;  and 
he  was  careful  to  watch  the  effects  of  diet  upon  him,  and  to 
avoid  in  eating  and  drinking  what  he  found  to  be  unfavorable 
in  its  tendency.  But  beyond  this,  one  can  scarcely  peruse 
his  diary  without  feeling  that,  amidst  the  abundance  of  hia 
labors  and  exposures,  he  must  have  been  under  the  care  of  a 
kind  and  special  providence,  to  escape  permanent,  or  even 
fatal,  injury. 

In  the  months  of  March  and  April,  he  spent  seven  Sabbaths, 
alternating  in  the  towns  of  Hamden,  Brewer,  and  Bangor. 
Toward  the  close  of  that  time,  he  was  waited  upon  by  the 
selectmen  of  Bangor  and  a  committee  from  Brewer,  (then 
Orrington,)  requesting  him  to  labor  with  them  for  a  time. 
He  was  not  prepared  to  answer  them  till  he  had  first  asked 
counsel  of  the  Lord.  Making  this  reference  of  the  matter, 
he  was  led  to  feel,  (as  he  expresses  it,)  that  Christian  friends 
there  had  probably  bribed  heaven  against  him,  and  that  he 
must  go  there  and  help  them.  He  <  told  the  Lord,'  however, 
'  that  he  could  not  go  unless  he  would  go  with  him.'  In  this 
request,  friends  in  Hamden  appear  to  have  united  ;  and  in 
consequence  he  spent  in  those  three  towns  a  part  of  June  and 
July,  the  whole  of  August,  and  the  most  of  September.  He 
did  not,  however,  confine  his  week-day  labors  to  these  places. 
He  was  almost  constantly  in  motion.  Noah's  dove  scarcely 


156  MEMOIR    OF  [1806. 

had  less  rest  to  the  soles  of  her  feet,  than  he  allowed  to  his. 
In  reading  his  diary,  one  is  almost  wearied,  as  if  with  running 
to  keep  up  with  him.  He  visited  the  towns  of  Newburgh, 
Dixmont,  Jackson,  Monroe,  and  Frankfort ;  ascended  the 
Penobscot  on  the  east  side  as  far  as  Sunkhaze,  and  on  the 
•west  to  Oldtown ;  and  visited  a  number  of  the  towns  and 
then  unincorporated  plantations  north  and  west  of  Bangor. 
Now  and  then  he  spent  a  day  in  reading  and  writing,  or  in 
comparative  retirement  and  devotion.  But  more  frequently 
he  was  preaching  once  or  more  times  a  day.  And  this  is,  for 
the  most  part,  true  of  the  whole  year,  a  portion  of  which  he 
spent  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Penobscot.  Going  and  coming, 
also,  he  usually  gave  lectures  along  the  road.  It  may  perhaps 
help  the  reader  to  form  an  idea  of  his  views  respecting  what 
should  be  his  diligence,  to  be  told,  that  on  a  snowy  day  at 
home,  near  the  close  of  the  year,  when  he  had  '  not  done 
much  to  purpose,'  he  recorded  his  sense  of  shame  and  guilt 
for  the  deficiency. 

In  his  labors  during  the  year,  he  seems  to  have  enjoyed 
the  same  measure  of  the  Divine  presence  and  assistance  which 
had  been  previously  afforded.  An  instance  or  two,  in  which 
these  appear  to  have  been  peculiarly  enjoyed,  it  may  be  pro- 
per to  notice.  Of  a  lecture  in  Orland  on  the  14th  of  March, 
from  Deut.  32  :  35,  "  Their  foot  shall  slide  in  due  time ;  for 
the  day  of  their  calamity  is  at  hand,  and  the  things  that  shall 
come  upon  them  make  haste,"  he  says :  '  Truly,  it  was  one 
of  the  most  solemn  and  tender  seasons  which  I  ever  enjoyed. 
Did  long  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Eternity  looked  near.' 
And  then  for  the  distinguished  and  unmerited  favor  thus  shown 
him,  he  added,  '  Praise  the  Lord,  0  my  soul ! '  Of  a  lecture 
between  Hamden  Corner  and  Newburgh,  June  9th,  he  says : 
'  It  was  truly  a  solemn  time.'  And  then  of  another  on  the 
same  day  at  the  latter  place,  from  Rev.  2:4,  5,  "I  have 
somewhat  against  thee,"  etc.;  he  says, '  The  Lord  was  present 
to  assist  in  speaking,  and  to  set  home  the  word.  Many 


June-JS'ov.]  JOT  HAM  SEWA-LL.  157 

solemn  faces  and  watery  eyes  were  in  the  assembly.  The 
Lord  be  praised.'  Nor  did  he  labor  without  encouragement 
of  success.  Some  cases  of  seriousness  existed  in  Brewer. 
In  visiting  six  families  one  day,  he  speaks  of  finding  some 
minds  specially  impressed ;  and  of  leaving  two  in  one  family, 
where  he  conversed  and  prayed,  bathed  in  tears.  On  a  second 
visit  to  Dixmont  Mills,  he  found  a  man  giving  pleasing  evi- 
dence of  piety  who  was  awakened  by  his  instrumentality  when 
there  a  few  weeks  previous.  At  the  time  of  that  previous 
visit,  he  went  thence  to  a  place  not  far  distant,  then  called 
Bridgestown,  now  Troy.  There  he  lectured,  and  was  told  that 
it  was  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  there  found  a  pious  lady,  who  had  heard  only  one  sermon 
any  where  in  the  vicinity  for  eleven  years.  The  strength  of 
his  desire  for  a  blessing  on  his  labors  is  seen  in  a  record 
which  he  made  of  his  feelings  while  riding  through  a  wood 
two  days  after  this.  *  Longed  to  be  instrumental  of  good  to 
souls.  Begged  of  God  to  send  affliction,  losses,  disappoint- 
ments, persecution,  anything,  rather  than  to  take  his  Holy 
Spirit  from  me,  or  that  I  should  fail  of  his  assistance  to  d^or 
suffer  for  his  name's  sake.' 

An  incident  recorded  a  few  weeks  after  this,  exhibits  the 
sovereignty  of  God  in  the  means  he  employs  to  awaken  the 
careless ;  and  that  he  can  so  apply  insignificant  physical 
events,  as  by  them  to  overturn  and  destroy  rooted  prejudices 
and  erroneous  opinions,  and  bring  the  soul  in  humble  prostra- 
tion to  the  Saviour's  feet.  It  shows  also  his  boundless  mercy 
in  thus  meeting  and  subduing  one  whom  other  means  had 
failed  to  affect.  In  a  back  neighborhood  in  Hamden,  he 
found  two  men  who  gave  evidence  of  having  recently  become 
pious.  One  of  these  had  been  a  Universalist ;  and  noth- 
ing had  arrested  his  mind,  till,  in  the  act  of  felling  a  tree, 
this  passage  struck  him  with  great  force :  "  In  the  place 
where  the  tree  falleth,  there  it  shall  lie."  The  application, 
of  course,  was  made  to  his  own  immortal  interests ;  and,  if  he 
14 


158  MEMOIR     OF  [1806. 

had  believed  in  a  future  limited  punishment,  the  principle 
here  involved  showed  him  the  falseness  of  the  expectation  of 
subsequent  release  ;  or,  if  otherwise,  he  saw  that  his  charac- 
ter for  eternity  must  be  formed  in  the  present  life.  After  a 
season  of  deep  distress,  he  was  brought  to  submit  to  a  sove- 
reign God,  and  close  with  the  offers  of  mercy  through  a 
crucified  Saviour. 

As  previously  remarked,  a  number  of  his  distant  relatives 
resided  in  this  vicinity  ;  and  we  often  find  him  pleading  with 
great  earnestness  for  the  conversion  of  those  of  them  who 
were  in  impenitence.  Among  these  was  a  somewhat  dis- 
tinguished man  in  Hamden,  who  was  frequently  a  subject 
of  his  fervent  supplications,  and  who,  during  this  season, 
began  to  occupy  a  somewhat  elegant  house  which  he  had 
erected.  Soon  after  this,  he  ^passed  a  night  under  that  hos- 
pitable roof.*  In  family  worship,  he  sung  and  read  the  ci. 
Psalm,  and  solemnly  dedicated  the  house  to  God,  entreating 
that  it  might  become  a  house  of  prayer.  During  prayer  and 
in  conversation  afterward  on  the  duty  and  reasonableness  of 
hoffeehold  worship,  his  kind  host  appeared  much  affected. 
The  Sabbath  evening  after,  August  3d,  he  preached  in  the 
house,  from  Joshua  24: 15,  "As  for  me  and  my  house,  we 
will  serve  the  Lord."  'And  truly,  (he  says,)  God  helped 
me  to  come  close  to  the  consciences  of  my  hearers.  Some 
wept ;  others  were  solemn ;  and  all  were  attentive.'  He 
passed  the  night  there,  and  '  enjoyed  a  sweet  time  in  family 
prayer ;'  and  he  felt  constrained  to  cherish  the  hope,  which 
he  recorded,  that  the  dwelling  would  become  a  house  of 
prayer.  This  hope  was  afterward  realized;  and  the  head  of 
that  family  went,  years  since,  as  it  is  believed,  to  the  rewards 
of  the  just  above. 

During  the  year,  he  observed  two  other  days  of  private 
fasting  and  prayer,  beside  the  one  we  have  noticed.  The 

*  This  phrase  is  used  as  peculiarly  characteristic  of  that  house  — 
Gen.  John  Crosbv'S. 


Nov.-Dec.]  JOTHAM   SKWALL.  159 

former  of  these  was  in  June,  at  Brewer.  The  season  ap- 
pears to  have  been  solemn  and  interesting.  '  With  some 
sincerity,  (he  says,)  gave  up  myself,  soul  and  body,  members 
and  abilities,  to  God,  to  be  employed  in  the  great  work  of  the 
ministry.  Longed  to  be  so  filled  with  a  holy  dread  of  God 
while  preaching,  as  not  to  regard  the  persons  of  men.  Be- 
sought God  to  make  me  successful  in  converting  sinners,  edi- 
fying his  people,  and  disciplining  his  house.  Prayed  to  be 
prepared  for  trials  at  home  and  abroad,  inward  and  outward. 
Looked  to  him  for  direction  in  the  path  of  duty, —  where  I 
shall  labor  the  coming  season, —  whether  at  home,  or  here,  or 
on  a  mission.'  —  The  latter,  was  in  December,  at  home.  Of 
this,  he  says  :  '  Confessed  my  sins,  original  and  actual,  before 
God,  —  and  besought  pardon  through  the  atoning  blood  of 
Christ.  Begged  for  gifts,  and  grace,  and  success  in  preaching 
the  Gospel.  Spread  the  situation  of  this  church  and  town 
before  God  with  some  i'eeling,  and,  I  trust,  in  the  exercise  of 
faith,  for  a  revival  of  his  work.  Besought  God  to  direct  my 
way  in  reference  to  the  question  of  going  on  a  mission  or 
otherwise.  Derived  some  confidence  that  he  would,  from  the 
passage  "  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord  ;  trust  in  him,  and 
he  shall  bring  it  to  pass."  Entreated  God  to  hear  the  prayers 
I  had  offered  in  behalf  of  my  family.  Told  him  I  could  de- 
sire no  more  than  I  had  desired;  and  I  trusted  his  Spirit  had 
excited  those  desires.  The  cause  of  God  in  general,  and  the 
case  of  absent  friends,  lay  with  some  weight  upon  my  mind. 
Have  reason  to  bless  God  for  the  opportunity.' 

Seasons  of  public  thanksgiving,  also,  were  precious  to  him. 
After  having  highly  enjoyed  the  public,  as  well  as  other  ser- 
vices of  one  which  had  just  passed,  he  said  :  '  Have  abun- 
dant reason  to  bless  God  for  an  opportunity  to  observe  a  day 
of  thanksgiving.'  And  he  adds  a  few  thoughts  respecting  the 
perversion  of  such  seasons.  '  It  was  humbling  to  reflect  that 
while  the  angels  in  heaven  are  praising  God,  and  the  moon 
and  stars  in  their  courses  were  doing  the  same,  and  we  were 


160  MEMOIR    OP  '[1806. 

assembled  for  the  same  delightful  duty, —  (this  was  at  an 
evening  service,)  —  numbers  were  gathered,  in  various  places, 
to  prostitute  the  evening  to  purposes  of  vain  amusement,  or 
intemperate  conviviality.  Oh  that  God  would  lead  them  to 
see  and  feel  their  guilt  and  danger,  and  not  suffer  them  to 
misuse  time  which  should  be  devoutly  spent,  or  waste  that, 
which  he  gives  them  to  prepare  for  heaven.' 

He  loved  his  country,  and  felt  that  it  was  in  God's  hands, 
and  was  awake  to  everything  which  tended  to  displease  him 
and  procure  his  frown  ;  —  and  at  a  time  a  few  weeks  previous 
to  the  above,  we  find  him  rising  from  his  bed  the  latter  part 
of  the  night,  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  sins  and  guilt  of 
the  nation,  and  the  danger  of  Divine  judgments, —  and  re- 
tiring^to  spread  the  matter  in  earnest  prayer  before  God. 
The  same  thing,  not  far  from  this  time,  he  wished  to  do  for  a 
neighbor.  —  a  fact  in  whose  history  looked  with  a  frowning 
aspect  on  his  spiritual  and  immortal  interests,  —  and  whose 
case  he  felt  deeply  as  he  awoke  in  the  night.  Laboring 
under  a  severe  cold,  he  felt  that  it  would  be  imprudent  to 
rise,  though  for  a  time  he  was  tried  whether  he  ought  not  to 
forego  the  consideration  of  health,  and  gratify  the  feeling 
which  struggled  for  a  private  interview  with  God  in  his  be- 
half. Instead  of  yielding  to  it,  however,  in  the  form  which 
he  wished,  he  remained  in  bed,  and  wept  and  prayed  for  him 
awhile  as  he  lay. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  he  had  the  priv^ege  of  con- 
secrating an  infant  daughter  to  God  in  baptism.  A  brother 
in  the  ministry,  providentially  present,  officiated.  His  feel- 
ings on  the  occasion  will  be  seen  by  an  extract  from  his 
diary.  '  Had  a  sense  of  my  un worthiness  to  give  myself,  or 
my  child,  to  God.  With  respect  to  the  propriety  of  infant 
baptism,  the  promises  of  God,  in  the  covenant  of  grace,  to 
be  a  God  to  his  people  and  their  seed ;  the  declaration  of 
Paul,  that  the  blessing  of  Abraham  comes  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ,  and  other  similar  things,  seemed  to  af- 


NoV.-DeC.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  161 

ford  a  permanent  foundation  on  which  to  stand.  I  felt  as  if 
my  feet  stood  upon  a  rock  which  could  never  be  moved.  It 
was  a  solemn  season  to  my  soul.  Offered  some  remarks  after- 
ward on  the  subject.  In  prayer  and  singing,  my  feelings  were 
much  moved.' 

Amidst  all  his  seasons  of  spiritual  enjoyment,  there  were, 
however,  occasional  reverses.  Now  and  then,  he  felt  him- 
self deserted  in  public  duties.  We  give  one  instance  below  ; 
and,  —  though  his  enjoyments  were  not  always  the  same,  — 
we  recollect  but  one  other  like  it  during  the  year,  ft  was  on 
the  Sabbath ;  and  the  following  is  his  record.  '  Preached  all 
day  from  Luke  9 :  60.  IB  the  forenoon  felt  troubled  with 
wanderings  in  prayer,  and  want  of  Divine  assistance  in  speak- 
ing. Retired  at  noon  ashamed  and  cast  down,  and  thought  I 
must  quit  preaching  if  I  could  not  enjoy  more  of  the  Divine 
presence.  But  God  graciously  drew  near  my  soul  in  the 
afternoon.  Felt,  upon  my  own  soul,  the  great  truths  I  dis- 
pensed to  other*.'  He  then  enjoyed  solemnity  in  administer- 
ing baptism  to  an  adult  and  an  infant,  and  added,  ' "  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits."  Thought 
I  could  never  be  thankful  enough  for  the  season.' 

The  following  shows  how  he  regarded  the  sin  of  having 
the  mind  occupied  about  worldly  things  on  the  Sabbath.  He 
was  returning  from  a  neighboring  town  where  he  had  preached 
during  the  day.  '  Was  troubled  (he  says),  with  wandering 
thoughts,  about  worldly  concerns,  by  the  way.  What  an  im- 
perfect, sinful  creature  I  am.  Shall  such  a  vile  creature  ever 
be  admitted  to  the  pure  regions  of  endless  felicity  ? '  He  felt 
that  the  command  to  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day  applied  to 
the  heart;  and  that  whatever  must  not  occupy  the  hands, 
must  not  be  entertained  in  the  mind.  And  the  following, 
which  occurred  the  Saturday  after  the  above,  and  to  which 
the  trial  he  then  felt  might  have  contributed,  exhibits  the 
pains  he  sometimes  took  to  avoid  worldly  entanglements  in 
holy  time.  Had  a  strong  inclination  to  perform  a  small  piece 

14* 


162  MEM  OIK    OF  -  "[1806. 

of  work,  though  not  of  immediate  necessity.  I  went  to  the 
place,  but  sat  down  and  thought  of  the  matter ;  and  as  I  have 
found  it  so  difficult  to  get  my  mind  from  the  world  on  Satur- 
days, in  order  to  prepare  for  the  Sabbath,  —  it  appeared  an 
imperious  duty  to  put  by  every  thing,  if  not  of  immediate 
pressing  necessity,  and  deny  such  inclinations  as  I  found  then 
operating,  lest,  by  being  gratified,  they  should  prove  snares  to 
my  soul  by  leading  it  from  God  and  duty,  and  injurious  to 
the  souls  of  others  by  unfitting  me  to  do  them  good.  I  kneeled 
down  and  prayed,  and  returned  without  doing  the  thing  for 
which  I  went.' 

In  closing  the  account  of  this  year,  it  is  proper  to  say,  that 
in  May  he  assisted  in  gathering  a  church  in  Dixfield,  of  ten 
members.  The  other  clergymen  present  were  Rev.  Messrs. 
McLean  and  Belden.  The  candidates  were  examined  and 
accepted  on  the  8th,  —  but  appear  not  to  have  publicly  en- 
tered into  covenant  till  the  following  Sabbath.  He  was 
present  also,  and  appears  to  have  assisted,  4it  the  formation 
of  the  church  in  Solon,  September  30th.  This  consisted  of 
only  five  persons.  The  other  clergymen  present,  were  Rev. 
Messrs.  Sawyer  and  Williston,  missionaries. 

The  commencement  of  1807,  found  him  at  Rumford.  He 
had  gone  into  that  neighborhood  on  a  short  missionary  excur- 
sion. The  beginning  of  a  new  period  brought  with  it,  as  it 
is  likely  to  do  to  every  good  and  reflecting  man,  thoughts  of 
the  past  and  desires  for  greater  efficiency  in  the  object  to 
which  life  is  devoted.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  he  says : 
'  Awoke  last  night  with  my  mind  much  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  unfaithfulness  in  the  great  work  of  the  Gospel  minis- 
try. Felt  guilty  that  I  had  been  so  worldly  minded  while  at 
home ;  that  I  had  not  visited  the  people,  and  pressed  upon 
them  the  great  concerns  of  their  souls.  Arose,  (there  being  a 
fire  in  the  room,)  and  sat  up  nearly  an  hour.  Besought  God 
that  he  would  afford  me  grace  to  be  more  faithful.'  In  a  few 


Jan.]  .1OTHAM     SKWALL.  163 

days  he  returned  home,  and  entered  upon  the  work  the  neglect 
of  which  he  had  thus  lamented.  All  the  families  in  the 
neighborhood  where  he  resided  were  visited,  and  conversed 
and  prayed  with.  His  visits  were  then  extended  into  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  and  even  into  the  next  town  ;  and  the 
first  day  of  February  was  little  more  than  passed  by,  when 
every  family  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  him  in  that  direction, 
had  received  the  same  attention.  While  performing  this  la- 
bor, he  does  not  appear  to  have  regarded  himself  as  in  the 
employ  of  any  Society.  Hence  the  following  entry,  made 
January  19th,  in  which  we  see,  also,  the  sense  of  duty  by 
which  he  was  actuated.  '  Felt  last  evening,  and  this  morn- 
ing, as  if  God  must  and  would  furnish  my  temporal  support, 
while  I  am  at  work  for  him ;  for  it  seemed  that  his  work  must 
be  done  ;  and  I  cannot  do  it  and  yet  provide  for  my  family.' 
The  state  of  his  mind  as  to  religious  enjoyment  at  this 
time,  is  indicated  by  the  following  extracts.  After  having 
preached  on  a -Sabbath  in  January,  and  administered  the 
Lord's  Supper,  and  Baptism,  he  says  :  '  Enjoyed  much  lib- 
erty, and  a  lively  sense  of  Divine  things,  and  a  view  of  the 
import  of  the  special  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  After  meet- 
ing, had  a  striking  sense  of  the  manner  in  which  one  mercy 
makes  another  needful.  Having  enjoyed  the  Divine  presence 
in  ordinances.  I  need  grace  to  make  a  humble,  wise,  and  good 
improvement  of  such  a  blessing.  The  bestowment  of  one  favor 
thus  creates  the  necessity  of  prayer  for  another,  and  that  for 
another,  and  so  on  ;  so  that  I  need  never  be  at  a  loss  for  mat- 
ter to  pray  always,  as  well  as  always  to  be  thankful.'  Of  a 
lecture  the  next  day,  he  says :  '  Truly,  it  was  a  solemn,  melt- 
ing season.  Seldom  enjoyed  more  freedom,  arid  tenderness 
for  the  souls  of  men.  The  people  were  attentive,  and  a  num- 
ber affected.'  And  shortly  after  this:  'It  was  a  pleasure 
to  think  beforehand  of  family  prayer.  Wanted  the  time 
to  come.  O  God,  accept  my  poor  offerings  ;  and  let  the  lift- 
ing up  of  my  hands  be  as  the  evening  sacrifice.' 


164  MEMOIR    OP  [1807. 

Toward  the  close  of  January,  he  observed  a  day  of  private 
fasting  and  prayer ;  and  among  other  things,  he  says :  '  En- 
deavored particularly  to  humble  myself  before  God  for  secret 
sins,  which  I  have  feared  might  bring  a  blast  upon  my  public 
labors ;  rob  my  own  soul  of  comfort ;  and,  possibly,  hinder 
blessings  from  descending  upon  my  family.' 

On  the  2d  of  February  he  unexpectedly  received  a  letter 
from  Portland,  requesting  him  to  go  there  and  labor.  At 
first,  he  was  at  a  loss  how  to  understand  this  event  of  Provi- 
dence. He  had  thought  of  spending  the  season  at  home,  and 
had  planned  the  manner  of  occupying  his  time ;  and  he 
scarcely  knew  whether  to  regard  this  as  designed  to  test  his 
adherence  to  what  he  had  thought  was  his  duty,  or  a '  call  from 
God  to  help  his  cause  in  an  unexpected  quarter.'  After  re- 
flecting upon  the  subject,  and  entreating  Divine  guidance,  he 
concluded  to  visit  the  place,  as  that  would  enable  him  better 
to  determine  what  duty  might  be.  Accordingly,  he  went,  and 
spent  the  first  two  Sabbaths  in  March.  The  evening  of  the 
day  after  his  arrival,  he  preached  in  a  private  house,  from 
1  John,  4:  8,  "He  that  loveth  not  knoweth  not  God,  for  God 
is  love."  This  discourse  he  found  reason  afterward  to  believe 
was  savingly  applied  to  at  least  one  of  his  hearers.  His  first 
Sabbath  was  divided  between  the  Baptist  meeting-house  and 
Dr.  Dean's,  and  the  second  between  Dr.  Dean's  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Kellogg's.*  He  preached  a  number  of  lectures  during  the 
week,  and  observed  one  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer  to 
seek  guidance  from  God  in  relation  to  the  path  of  duty,  and 
'  ministerial  gifts,  such  as  fortitude,  humility,  wisdom,  knowl- 
edge, fear  of  God,  and  desire  to  please  Christ  and  not  man.' 
The  result  of  his  visit  was,  that  he  concluded  to  return,  after 
a  few  weeks,  and  labor  there  during  the  season. 

After  six  intervening  Sabbaths,  three  of  which  were  spent 
in  jSiorridgewock,  he  returned  to  Portland  the  latter  part  of 

*  Dr.  Dean  was  pastor  of  the  Frist  Congregational  Church,  (now 
Unitarian,)  aqd  Mr.  Kellogg  of  the  Second. 


April.]  JOTHAySEWALL.  165 

April.  A  hall  had  been  provided  for  a  place  of  worship  ;  and 
here  he  preached  (except  three  Sabbaths  in  September,  two 
of  which  he  supplied)  till  about  the  middle  of  October.  Be- 
side three  services  on  the  Sabbath,  he  gave  generally  a  lec- 
ture on  Tuesday  evening  at  the  hall,  and  various  other  lectures 
at  private  houses.  During  this  time,  in  nearly  every  religious 
duty,  public  or  private,  he  appears  to  have  enjoyed  much  of 
the  Divine  presence.  Nor  did  he  labor  in  vain.  He  had 
the  pleasure  of  frequent  intercourse  with  persons  who  were  in 
an  anxious  state  of  mind,  and  of  witnessing  a  number  of  hope- 
ful conversions.  The  dews  of  heavenly  grace,  indeed,  appear 
to  have  been  descending  more  or  less  in  the  vicinity.  A 
somewhat  powerful  revival,  (judging  by  notices  in  his 
diary,)  existed,  particularly  in  what  is  now  Cumberland. 
Here,  during  the  season,  he  preached  a  number  of  times. 
And  though  he  was  not  in  such  a  destitute  region  as  sur- 
rounded the  Penobscot,  he  lectured  occasionally  in  the  towns 
of  Cape  Elizabeth,  Westbrook,  Falmouth,  and  N.  Yarmouth. 
And  in  these,  especially  amidst  the  effusions  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  we  are  not  to  suppose  that  his  labors  were  in  vain. 
Of  a  lecture  which  he  preached  at  Walnut  Hill,  where  some 
special  seriousness  existed,  he  says  that  many  were  in  tears. 
Of  a  lecture  in  Cumberland,  he  says  :  '  Much  solemnity  and 
many  tears  in  the  assembly.  Felt  uncommonly  affected  my- 
self with  longing  desires  for  previous  souls.  After  meeting, 
called  at  a  house  where  four  or  five  young  ladies,  in  a  state 
of  anxiety,  were  bathed  in  tears.  Conversed  and  prayed 
with  them.  Oh,  how  unworthy  am  I  even  to  see  the  work 
of  the  Lord  going  on  ! '  * 

*  A  correspondent,  now  residing  in  another  place,  and  who  might 
have  been  one  of  the  above  number,  thus  writes  :  'I  too  claimed  him 
as  the  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God  of  awakening  me  to  a  sense  of 
my  danger ;  which.  I  humbly  hope,  by  the  influenc>  of  the  blessed 
Spirit,  brought  me  to  the  foot  of  the  Cross.  This  was  in  the  great 
reformation  in  Cumberland,  in  1 807  ;  and  as  your  beloved  father 
labored  there  considerably  at  that  time,  I  do  not  think  that  I  nm  alone 
in  claiming  him  for  my  spiritual  father.' 


166  MXMOiftOF  [t807. 

Returning  to  his  lodgings  in  May  from  a  meeting  of  the 
Ministerial  Association  in  N.  Yarmouth,  (now  Yarmouth,) 
he  was  surprised  to  be  informed  that  the  people  were  alive  to 
the  building  of  a  meeting-house,  if  he  would  consent  to  stay. 
A  permanent  location  there  was  what  he  had  never  contem- 
plated or  desired.  His  own  view  of  his  qualifications,  (or, 
rather,  his  want  of  them.)  would  not  allow  him  to  suppose 
that  he  could  be  permanently  useful  in  such  a  field.  The 
work  which  he  regarded  himself  as  called  into  the  ministry 
to  perform  was  of  a  more  general  nature.  Still,  things  had 
occurred  in  his  history  so  different  from  his  own  calculations, 
and  so  manifestly  under  the  direction  of  Providence,  that  he 
did  not  feel  authorized  himself  to  decide.  In  his  own  lan- 
guage, he  '  tried  to  spread  the  matter  before  God,  and  felt 
willing  to  be  or  do  what  he  should  chose.  Felt  engaged  in 
giving  up  myself  to  God  this  morning  in  secret,  to  be  disposed 
of  as  he  pleases ;  earnestly  besought  God  that  I  might  not 
gain  the  ears  of  people  merely,  but  their  hearts  for  him.'  This 
led  him  to  observe  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  the  following 
week,  to  commit  himself  and  his  way  to  God,  and  seek  his 
guidance.  It  is  probable  that  he  gave  no  particular  encour- 
agement at  the  time,  nor  affirmed  anything  like  a  denial. 
The  posture  of  his  mind  seems  to  have  been,  that  of  waiting 
upon  God.  The  meeting-house,  however,  went  up  ;  and  was 
ready  to  be  occupied  by  the  first  of  December.  A  parish,  as 
he  informs  us,  was  incorporated,  called  '  The  Third  Congre- 
gational Parish  in  Portland,'  and  a  church  organized,  as  we 
shall  presently  see.  The  meeting-house  has  recently  been 
remodelled,  and  is  that  in  which  the  Third  Church  and 
Parish  now  worship. 

From  the  above  extract,  it  would  be  an  error  to  infer  that  he 
regarded  himself  as  peculiarly  popular,  or  that  he  was  pleased 
with  his  own  performances.  Beside  the  general  remark, 
which  we  wish  here  to  throw  in,  that,  on  a  review  of  his  ser- 
mons, he  often  expresses  a  deep  sense  of  mortification ;  a 


1807.]  JOTHAM    SEW  A  I.  L.  167 

s 

single  reference  will  show,  that,  in  his  present  situation,  he 
was  not  without  some  painful  trials  respecting  the  acceptable- 
ness  of  his  labors.  It  shows  also  the  struggles  which  he  had 
to  make  against  different  and  opposite  tendencies  of  a  sinful 
nature.  It  was  Sabbath  morning,  and  he  had  felt  some  de- 
pression of  spirits  the  evening  before.  '  Awoke  this  morning 
under  deeper  depression  than  last  evening.  My  dreams  and 
waking  thoughts  were  upon  the  world,  to  my  sorrow.  At 
meeting,  found  fewer  in  attendance  than  last  Lord's  day, 
which  tended  to  depress  me  more.  Enjoyed  some  liberty  in 
speaking,  but  not  that  engagedness  which  I  wished.  Felt 
exceedingly  dull  during  the  intermission.  Could  get  no  relief 
in  prayer.  At  the  thought  of  attempting  God's  worship  in 
such  a  frame,  dreaded  going  to  the  afternoon  meeting.'  In 
the  afternoon,  however,  he  enjoyed  more  of  the  Divine  pres- 
ence. And  in  the  evening  he  found  occasion  to  say,  "'  I  was 
brought  low,  and  he  helped  me."  May  I  be  encouraged  to 
trust  in  God  in  all  my  troubles.'  The  next  morning  he  wrote, 
'  Find  I  am  apt  to  give  way  to  despondency  and  unbelief  in 
times  of  difficulty,  and  to  be  proud  and  self-sufficient  when 
things  go  well.  Tried  to  pray  against  both  this  morning.' 

Having  made  a  brief  visit  to  his  family,  he  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  Lincoln  Association  at  Hailowell.*  An  im- 
portant transaction  at  that  meeting  he  thus  records  :  '  Formed 
into  a  missionary  society,  by  the  name  of  the  Maine  Mission- 
ary Society?  This  wras  on  the  eighteenth  of  June.  Here 
we  have  the  origin  of  that  noble  institution,  which  now  re- 
ceives and  distributes  nearly  twelve  thousand  dollars  annually, 
and  employs  its  ninety  missionaries ;  which  is  the  nursing 
mother  of  more  than  a  hundred  feeble  Congregational 
Churches ;  which  has  received  more  than  nineteen  hundred 
life-members  ;  and  which  has  done  and  is  doing  incalculable 
good  in  that  State.  Its  beginning  was  small ;  and  the  writer 

*  This  Association  then  embraced  the  Congregational  ministers  in 
Lincoln  and  Kennebeek  Counties. 


168      *  MEMOIR     OF  [1807. 

\ 

recollects  attending  one  of  its  earlier  anniversaries,  when  all, 
or  nearly  all,  the  clergymen  present  dined  at  a  single  table  in 
a  sitting-room  of  only  ordinary  size. 

During  his  absence  from  Portland  in  September,  on  the 
thirtieth  of  that  month,  he  attended  the  ordination  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  at  Edgecomb.*  On  his 
return  in  October,  he  saw  Rev.  Mr.  Payson,  who  had  come 
to  Portland  to  labor,  and  who  at  first  he  hoped  he  might 
obtain  to  take  charge  of  the  society  he  was  gathering.  But 
Divine  Providence  had  determined  another  sphere  of  labor 
for  him. 

About  this  time  he  received  a  pressing  request  to  labor  in 
Bloomfield,  where  a  powerful  work  of  grace  was  in  progress ; 
and  on  Sabbath,  October  llth,  they  took  leave  of  the  hall, 
where  for  five  and  a  half  months  they  had  worshipped  ;  and 
he  gave  notice  that  he  should  not  preach  with  them  again  till 
the  meeting-house  was  ready  to  be  occupied?  which  was  ex- 
pected to  be  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  weeks.  After 
returning  home,  he  went  to  Bloomfield,  and  labored  a  few 
weeks.  While  there,  on  the  fourth  of  November,  he  assisted 
in  forming  a  church  at  Dixmont. 

The  question  of  his  settling  in  Portland  had  probably  been 
decided  before  he  left  in  October.  Some  at  least  were  very 
anxious  for  it,  and  were  disappointed  that  he  declined.  But 
he  was  satisfied  that  this  was  his  duty,  and  told  them  that  his 
only  design  had  been  to  prepare  the  way  for  some  other 
person.  In  the  beginning  of  December,  however,  he  returned, 
and  was  happy  to  find  on  the  ground  a  Mr.  James  Thurston, 
from  New  Market,  who  was  expected  to  labor  a  season  as  a 
candidate.  He  now  had  the  prospect  of  being  released,  ac- 
cording to  his  wish,  that  he  might  labor  elsewhere ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  of  seeing  the  infant  society  blessed,  (as  he 
hoped,)  with  an  able  and  faithful  pastor.  He  remained  two 

*  On  the  18th  of  the  February  previous,  he  had  attended  the  ordina- 
tion of  Rev.  David  Thurston  at  Winthrop. 


1807.J  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  169 

Sabbaths ;  and  during  the  intervening  week,  a  number  of 
candidates  were  examined,  and  a  church  formed  on  the  eighth. 
Soon  after,  he  left,  saying :  '  I  feel  quite  satisfied  with  the 
disposals  of  Divine  providence  here.  Have  reason  to  think 
that  God  has  heard  my  prayer,  and  provided  for  the  society 
a  man  (I  trust)  after  his  own  heart.  I  now  can  leave  the 
place  with  a  clear  conscience  and  great  peace,  being  satisfied 
that  I  have  accomplished  what  God  intended  I  should  in  this 
place.  And  now  he  bids  me  go  and  labor  elsewhere  in  his 
vineyard.  Cheerfully  and  joyfully  I  go.  O  Lord  !  go  with 
me,  and  all  shall  be  well.'- 

After  a  brief  visit  to  his  family,  he  went  to  Bloomfield. 
Here  he  found  the  work  of  grace  progressing  ;  and  he  entered 
into  it  with  all  his  heart.  It  was,  however,  with  a  humble 
view  of  his  own  agency.  After  closing  the  labors  of  his 
second  Sabbath  there,  he  said :  '  One  soul  professed  afterward 
to  find  a  little  comfort  in  time  of  the  [evening]  sermon.  Felt 
as  if  my  preaching  only  attended  the  work  of  the  Lord  on  the 
soul,  or  that  God's  work  was  providentially  at  the  time  of  my 
speaking,  without  any  necessary  connection  arising  from  the 
goodness  or  fitness  of  the  preaching  to  such  an  end,  any  more 
than  the  blowing  of  the  rams'  horns  was  adapted  to  prostrate 
the  walls  of  Jericho.  All  depends  on  the  sovereign  power 
and  appointment  of  God,  who  has  mercy  on  whom  he  will 
have  mercy,  and  whom  he  will  he  hardeneth.  Conversed 
awhile  with  some  who  are  under  concern.  What  reason 
have  I  to  be  thankful  and  humble!  —  thankful,  that  I  am 
permitted  to  be  where  God  is  working,  and  look  on  and  see 
the  operation  of  his  hands,  and  be  in  the  least  degree  instru- 
mental of  good ;  —  humble,  under  a  sense  of  my  great  un- 
worthiness  and  exceeding  vileness.' 

Some  of  the  converts  were  filled  with  great  joy.  He  speaks 
of  a  man  and  his  wife  who,  when  the  former  had  indulged 
hope  during  the  night,  (the  latter  appears  to  have  found  com- 
fort a  short  time  previous,)  went,  early  in  the  morning,  and 
15 


170  MEMOIR    OF  '[ISOS. 

awoke  a  pious  neighbor  to  praise  God  with  them.  He 
visited  and  conversed  with  them  during  the  day  ;  and,  while 
he  blessed  God  for  his  wonderful  goodness,  felt  that  there 
was  occasion  to  rejoice  with  trembling,  lest  souls  should  rest 
on  a  false  foundation.  In  a  lecture  on  the  evening  of  that 
day,  from  1  Pet.  2:7,"  Unto  you  therefore  that  believe,  he  is 
precious,"  he  '  gave  some  cautions  to  young  converts  and  to 
professors,  lest  they  should  rejoice  with  a  selfish  joy.'  Of  this 
the  great  adversary  appears  to  have  taken  occasion  shortly 
after  to  distress  him.  A  part  of  the  following  Sabbath,  he 
had  not  enjoyed  his  usual  solemnity  and  interest  in  preaching. 
This  of  course  was  painful,  and  especially  at  such  a  time  ; 
and  of  the  night,  he  says  :  '  Awoke  with  a  strong  impression 
upon  my  mind  that  God  had  departed  from  me,  and  would 
not  assist  me  in  preaching,  because  I  had  opposed  his  work. 
This  was,  that  I  had  attempted  to  check  some  things  which  I 
feared  might  grow  to  extravagances,  and  had  prayed  that  God 
would  work  in  a  regular  manner,  free  from  extravagances, 
enthusiasm,  etc.  It  was  suggested  to  my  mind,  that  herein  I 
had  undertaken  to  dictate  and  control  the  Most  High ;  and 
that  he  must  work  in  my  way,  etc.  I  felt  much  distressed  ; 
but  in  the  morning  obtained  much  relief  by  prayer.  And 
still  it  seemed  right  to  ask,  (with  submission  to  the  sovereign 
will  of  God,)  that  his  work  might  be  carried  on  without 
tumult  or  extravagance.  Satan  is  a  busy  adversary,  and 
especially,  I  believe,  in  seasons  of  religious  interest.  And  if 
he  can  scare  me  into  a  compliance  with  his  wiles,  and  make 
me  countenance,  as  the  work  of  God,  the  delusions  and  coun- 
terfeits which  he  would  palm  off  in  its  stead, —  I  should  be  a 
complete  tool  for  him.  O  Lord,  deliver  me  from  his  snares  ! ' 
The  anxiety  expressed  in  the  above  extract  might  have  been 
somewhat  increased  by  the  fact,  that  the  work  was  rather 
general,  extending  into  other  towns,  and  embracing  all 
religious  denominations. 

But  he  was  not  deserted.     Of  a  lecture  not  long  after, 


1808.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  171 

from  Judges  3 :  20,  "  I  have  a  message  from  God  unto  thee," 
he  says  :  '  Scarcely  ever  felt  more  solemn  in  dispensing  God's 
word.  Felt  as  if  I  was  indeed  delivering  his  message ;  and 
that  he  would  acknowledge  and  apply  it.  Believe  that  it  will 
affect  the  hearers  for  good  or  otherwise.  Felt  willing  to  leave 
it  with  him.' 

Soon  after  this,  he  observed  a  day  of  private  fasting  and 
prayer,  in  which,  among  other  things,  after  confessing  his  own 
sins  and  imploring  pardon  and  sanctifying  grace,  he  confessed 
the  sins  of  his  family,  and  begged  converting  grace  ;  the  sins 
of  the  neighborhood  and  town  in  which  he  lived,  and  besought 
for  them  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit ;  and  prayed  for  minis- 
terial gifts,  grace,  and  success  ;  for  the  new  Society  in  Port- 
land; and  that  God  would  continue  his  work  in/Bloomfield, 
and,  provide  lor  the  Church  and  Society  there  a  faithful 
pastor. 

The  revival,  and  especially  its  extent,  rendered  his  labors 
abundant.  Visiting,  conversing,  praying,  preaching,  and 
attending  church-meetings,  occupied  him  almost  constantly. 
From  Bloomfield  as  a  centre,  he  moved,  during  the  week, 
(and  sometimes  for  a  third  service  on  the  Sabbath,)  in  all 
directions.  And  his  transitions  from  point  to  point,  as  we 
look  after  him  through  the  medium  of  the  brief  sketch  given 
in  his  diary,  appear  to  have  been  made  with  great  rdpidity. 
lint  his  bones  were  not  iron,  nor  his  flesh  brass.  His  mind 
drove  its  physical  associate  too  hard.  And  in  the  beginning 
of  February,  in  consequence  of  a  severe  cold  and  hoarseness, 
he  was  obliged  to  relax  somewhat  the  rigor  of  his  application 
by  a  return  to  his  family.  Here,  indeed,  lie  was  not  idle. 
He  preached  every  Sabbath,  and  took  a  journey  to  Bath ; 
and  thence  made  a  brief  trip  to  Portland,  to  see  how  things 
were  going  there.  On  his  return,  he  attended  an  ecclesiastical 
meeting  at  Winthrop,  in  connection  with  which,  on  the  24th 
of  February,  Rev.  Daniel  Lovejoy  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist. The  meeting  was  composed  of  ministers  and  lay 


172  MEMOIR    OF  [-1808. 

delegates  from  several  churches.  Its  object,  as  gathered 
from  the  informal  record  of  his  diary^was  to  embody  a  '  Con- 
sociation,' and  adopt  '  articles  of  faith  and  practice,'  for  the 
greater  union  and  harmony  of  the  churches.  Such  a  body 
was  organized ;  and,  in  addition  to  the  above  objects,  it  was 
probably  intended,  like  a  similar  body  in  Connecticut,  to  be 
'a  court  of  appeal  from  the  decisions  of  the  churches.'* 

This  season  of  comparative  relaxation  to  body  and  mind 
gave  his  physical  system  an  opportunity  to  throw  off  the 
injurious  effects  of  unremitted  toil  and  various  exposures ; 
and  he  returned  to  Bloomfield  the  first  of  March,  and  labored 
there  principally  till  the  last  of  April. 

The  first  half  of  May,  and  again  the  first  Sabbath  in  June, 
he  preached  in  Farmington.  We  have  before  noticed  the 
solicitude  he  felt  for  thi*  place.  His  anxiety  in  its  behalf 
appears  to  have  been  revived.  For,  in  a  private  fast  which 
he  observed  in  March,  to  seek  direction  respecting  the  desire 
of  the  people  in  Bloomfield,  he  besought  God  to  provide 
another  man  for  that  people,  and  give  him  '  an  opening  to  do 
good  in  Farmington,  and  cut  asunder  the  bars  of  opposition 
which  might  prevent.'  The  interests  of  religion  near  home, 
seemed  to  be  particularly  upon  his  heart.  The  latter  part 
of  May,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  other  anniversaries  in  Boston.  For  a 
part  of  the  missionary  year,  previous  to  this  annual  meeting, 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  that  Society. 

Before  his  return  to  Bloomfield,  where  he  arrived  a  little 
past  the  middle  of  June,  he  attended  the  first  anniversary  of 
the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  on  the  15th  of  that  month,  at 
Hallowell.  At  Bloomfield,  (excepting  one  Sabbath's  absence,) 
he  continued  till  near  the  close  of  July.  During  this  time, 
the  church  and  people  there  requested  him  to  become  their 
pastor.  From  what  has  just  been  stated,  the  reader  will 

*  This  movement  was  abandoned  after  a  few  vears. 


1808.]  .TOT  II  AM     SEW  ALL.  173 

probably  anticipate  that  he  had  no  predilection  toward  a 
compliance  *vith  this  wish.  He  however  did  not  decide 
hastily,  but  spread  the  matter  before  God,  willing  to  be  dis- 
posed of  as  he  saw  fit ;  and  made  a  fresh  surrender  of  him- 
self, to  be  employed  in  his  service  where  and  how  he  pleased. 
During  the  time  that  he  labored  in  Bloomfield,  which  was 
now  about  four  and  a  half  months,  he  received  thirty-two 
members  to  the  church,  a  number  of  whom  at  least  he  was 
authorized  to  regard  as  his  spiritual  children.  About  the 
middle  of  September,  he  visited  the  place  again.  He  had 
now  reason  to  suppose,,  that  another  faithful  pastor  would  be 
given  them,  if  he  declined  the  office.  He  preached  a  lecture 
from  Acts  21 :  14,  "And  when  he  would  not  be  persuaded, 
we  ceased,  saying,  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done ; "  (the 
writer  knows  not  whether  he  took  the  whole  verse  or  the  last 
clause ; )  and  gave  a  negative  answer.  This  he  found  a 
much  greater  trial  than  he  had  anticipated.  He  says  '  To 
hear  my  spiritual  children  saying,  "  Don't  leave  us ;  we  don't 
want  a  father-in-law,"  and  the  like,  penetrated  my  very  heart. 
I  cried  to  heaven  for  them,  that  the  Good  Shepherd  would 
carry  these  lambs  in  his  arms,  and  provide  them  with  a  faith- 
ful under-shepherd.  Felt  a  confidence  that  he  would.  Many 
tears  were  shed  in  the  assembly,  and  by  myself.  Took  an 
affectionate  leave  of  several  after  meeting,  and  left.'  He 
must  have  had  a  very  clear  and  controlling  conviction  of  duty, 
or  more  steadiness  of  nerve  than  most,  to  go  as  he  did  from 
such  an  interview  to  a  neighboring  town,  and  preach  again, 
and  enjoy  it. 

During  the  season,  some  special  attention  to  religion  had 
existed  in  Norridgewock.  There  he  had  given  occasional  lec- 
tures. Between  the  1st  of  August  and  the  5th  of  December, 
he  spent  some  six  or  seven  Sabbaths  there ;  and  received,  at 
different  times,  eight  members  to  the  church.  At  a  lecture 
in  September,  from  Gal.  3 : 29,  "  If  ye  be  Christ's,  then  are 
ve  Abraham's  seed,  and  heirs  according  to  the  promise," — he 

15* 


174  MEMOIR     OF  [1808. 

baptized  a  number  of  children,  and  enjoyed  a  very  solemn, 
interesting  season.  '  The  assembly  seemed  generally  im- 
pressed.' And  he  added,  '  I  desire  to  be  thankful  that  though 
many  Christian  brethren  do  not  suppose  that  God  owns  infant 
baptism,  I  have  the  fuHest  assurance  from  the  Word  and 
Spirit  of  God,  and  my  own  experience,  that  he  does  ;  and  I 
could  wish,  if  the  will  of  God  were  so,  that  they  might  see 
and  feel  the  same.'  On  the  2el  of  November,  he  was  present, 
and  assisted  in  the  dedication  of  the  meeting-house,  which 
had  been  recently  finished. 

Beginning  as  above,  (August  1st)  and  going  a  little  nearer 
to  the  close  of  the  year,  he  spent  eight  Sabbaths  in  Farming- 
ton.  Here  he  received  six  members  to  the  church.  One  season 
of  private  devotion  connected  with  his  labors  here  is  worthy 
of  notice.  It  was  Sabbath  morning.  He  arose  a  little  past 
two  o'clock  and  engaged  in  prayer  with  uncommon  fervency. 
He  pleaded  with  God  for  assistance  in  preaching,  and  for  the 
conversion  of  souls  ;  for  his  wife  ;  for  his  children.  And  so 
deeply  interested  was  he.  and  so  heartily  engaged  in  the  duty, 
that  he  '  scarcely  knew  when  to  leave  off.' 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  introduce  another  extract  or  two, 
showing  the  depth  of  the  interest  he  felt  in  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  his  family,  and  how  this  kept  pace  with  his  religious 
history.  '  An  uncommonly  solemn  season  in  family  prayer 
this  evening.  Was  much  animated  with  the  thought  of  the 
promised  enlargement  of  Christ's  kingdom.  Wished  that 
my  family  might  belong  to  it.  Pleaded  the  readiness  of 
Christ,  -wliile  on  earth,  to  heal  sick  bodies ;  that  souls  were 
more  precious  than  bodies ;  that  he  is  as  full  of  mercy  as 
ever ;  that  my  family  must  die  and  perish  eternally  without 
his  help,  etc.  Have  reason  to  bless  God  for  such  a  season.' 
A  few  weeks  afterward  :  '  Enjoyed  a  very  solemn  time  in  the 
worship  of  the  family,  praying  for  each  of  my  children  per- 
sonally. Think  I  exercised  faith  for  them  all,  on  the  ground 
of  God's  gracious  covenant  promises  to  he  a  God  to  the  seed 


1809.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  175 

of  his  people,  and  in  telling  me  to  open  my  mouth  wide,  and 
he  will  fill  it.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  for  this  season.'  Again, 
a  little  onward  :  '  Think  it  was  good  this  morning  in  prayer 
to  particularize  my  children,  and  give  them  up  to  God,  plead- 
ing his  covenant  faithfulness.  Think  I  exercised  some  faith 
in  God  in  their  behalf.'  The  firm  hold  which  he  had  taken 
of  the  Abrahamic  covenant  was,  manifestly,  a  great  comfort 
to  him.  It  assisted  his  faith,  encouraged  his  hope,  and  raised 
his  expectation ;  and,  if  what  does  this  increases  the  efficacy 
of  prayer,  it  was  certainly  beneficial. 

While  he  preached  in  Norridgewock  and  Farmington,  he 
was  travelling  and  laboring  as  usual,  during  the  week,  in  the 
neighboring  towns.  A  few  Sabbaths,  also,  were  spent  in 
these. 

The  church  which  he  was  instrumental  in  forming  at  Port- 
land, and  for  which  he  cherished  a  parental  regard,  remained 
destitute  of  a  pastor.  For  some  reason,  Mr.  Thurston  of 
New  Market  did  not  remain.  In  September,  he  made  it  a 
brief  visit,  and  spent  a  Sabbath,  receiving  three  to  its  com- 
munion, and  administering  the  Supper.  Of  this  he  says, 
'  The  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  honor  me  with  administering 
the  Lord's  Supper  for  the  first  time  to  this  church,  which  he 
made  me  instrumental  of  gathering ;  and  in  the  new  meeting- 
house. When  I  see  what  has  taken  place  in  consequence  of 
my  preaching  here  a  few  months  last  year,  I  am  astonished, 
and  conclude  that  greater  things  will  yet  be  effected  for  this 
place  and  people.' 

At  the  commencement  of  1809,  he  labored  a  few  weeks  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Kennebeek.  In  North  Augusta  some 
special  seriousness  existed  ;  and  in  passing  through  Noble- 
borough,  he  found  that  a  powerful  work  of  grace  had  been  in 
progress  there  during  the  previous  season.  He  speaks,  also, 
of  some  attention  in  New  Castle. 

In  February  he  was  called  on  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  in 


176  MEMOIR    OF  -       [1809. 

Union.  A  Congregational  church  existed  there ;  but  not  of 
a  very  distinct  orthodox  character.  A  number  of  its  mem- 
bers were  dissatisfied ;  and  at  least  one  council  had  been 
previously  convened  to  adjust  existing  difficulties.  The  coun- 
cil now  assembled  made  a  similar  attempt,  but  without  suc- 
cess. The  ground  of  a  distinct  orthodox  confession  the  church 
was  unwilling  to  take,  and  the  aggrieved  members  felt  con- 
strained to  withdraw.  After  much  deliberation  and  prayer, 
as  they  appeared  to  have  taken  Gospel  steps,  they  were  ex- 
amined, and  on  the  17th,  they  were  embodied  into  a  separate 
church.* 

Attempting  to  reach  Friendship  for  the  next  Sabbath,  he 
was  stopped  in  "Warreixby  a  violent  ,storm.  Unable  to  col- 
lect a  congregation  on  account  of  its  continuance,  he  spent  the 
day  without  preaching ;  and  speaks  of  it  as  the  first  silent 
Sabbath,  save  one,  which  he  had  had  for  seven  years. 

During  the  months  of  March  and  April,  he  labored  prin- 
cipally in  Farmington.  He  commenced  with  a  season  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  in  which'he  besought  God's  help  in  trying 
to  do  something  for  his  name  and  the  good  of  souls.  The 
strong  desire  which  he  had  possessed  for  a  spiritual  blessing 
upon  this  place  led  him  now  to  adopt,  and  carry  vigorously 
through,  a  system  of  family  visits.  This  he  prosecuted  for 
weeks,  calling  at  every  house,  conversing  with  persons  of  every 
description,  and  praying  with  most  of  the  families.  This 
brought  him  in  contact  with  many  who  profess  to  believe  that 
all  will  be  saved.  Approaching  them  in  the  spirit  of  prayer 
and  with  Christian  kindness,  he  "  reasoned  with  them  out  of 
the  scriptures."  The  arguments  of  not  a  few  he  appears  to 
have  silenced ;  but  to  rectify  their  judgments  was  a  more 
difficult  thing.  By  most  he  appears  to  have  been  treated 
kindly.  Here  and  there  a  person,  however,  was  unwilling  to 


*  After  some  years,  this  church,  in  consequence  of  a  change  in  the 
First,  reunited  with  that. 


March -April.]       JOT  HAM   SK\VA.LL.  177 

have  religious  conversation  or  prayer  under  his  roof.  Three 
other  Sabbaths,  during  the  year,  he  also  spent  in  this  place. 
He  appears  to  have  enjoyed  much  of  the  Divine  presence  in 
these  labors  of  love,  and  though  no  immediate  visible  effects 
are  recorded,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  few  to  the 
church. 

The  Missionary  Society  in  whose  employ  he  principally 
was,  commissioned  him  to  labor  a  part  of  the  year  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Winnepiseogee  lake,  in  New  Hampshire. 
Here  he  spent  a  few  weeks  in  May,  visiting  Centre  Harbor, 
Meredith,  Tuftonborough,  Ossipee,  Wolfsborough,  and  Mid- 
dleton  ;  preaching  with  his  accustomed  power  to  full  and  at- 
tentive assemblies  ;  and  laboring  with  his  customary  assiduity. 

On  his  return  from  the  anniversaries  at  Boston,  which  he 
attended,  he  was  strongly  urged  to  spend  a  little  time  in  Port- 
land, where  God  was  pouring  out  his  Spirit.  Contrary  to 
his  previous  intention,  he  remained  about  ten  days ;  adminis- 
tering the  Lord's  Supper  to  the  new  church  ;  visiting,  con- 
versing and  lecturing;  observing  a  season  of  fasting  and 
prayer  in  which  that  church  and  society  were  earnestly  re- 
membered ;  and  calling  and  preaching  at  Gorham,  where  also 
a  revival  of  religion  existed. 

Soon  after  reaching  home,  he  was  waited  on,  by  a  com- 
mittee from  Norridgewock,  requesting  him  to  take  the  pas- 
toral care  of  that  church  and  people.  A  request  apparently 
unexpected,  and  conflicting  with  the  views  which  he  ordinarily 
entertained  respecting  his  duty,  brought  a  burden  upon  his 
mind.  This,  as  usual,  he  carried  to  the  Lord  ;  and  he  so  far 
entertained  the  question  as  to  agree  to  advise  with  his  minis- 
terial brethren  respecting  it.  Accordingly,  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  which  was  held  at  N.  Yar- 
mouth (now  Yarmouth),  July  5th,  he  laid  the  matter  before 
the  board  of  trustees,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  Their 
opinion  was,  that  he  was  peculiarly  fitted  to  be  useful  as  a 
missionary,  and  ought  not  so  to  confine  himself  to  any  place 


178  MEMOIR     OF  [1809. 

as  to  prevent  him  from  laboring  principally  in  that  capacity. 
He,  accordingly,  a  few  weeks  after  returned  a  negative  reply. 
On  giving  this  answer,  he  joined  with  the  church  in  a  season 
of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
would  provide  for  them  a  pastor.  Of  this,  he  says  :  '  My 
feelings  were  much  excited,  and  I  think  I  exercised  faith  in 
prayer,  that  God  would  hear  and  grant  an  answer  of  peace. 
Several  others  appeared  to  be  much  exercised.' 

During  the  first  six  months  of  the  missionary  year,  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  Society  to  labor  in  Rhode 
Island.  But  owing  to  the  existence  of  a  special  religious  in- 
terest in  a  number  of  the  destitute  towns  and  settlements  in 
Maine,  he  deemed  it  his  duty  not  to  leave.  For  the  greater 
part  of  this  time,  lie  labored  in  the  towns  within  thirty  miles 
of  his  residence.  His  report  to  the  Society,*  at  its  next  annual 
meeting,  states,  that  the  towns  of  Temple,  Strong,  New  Vine- 
yard, Industry,  Farmington,  and  New  Salem  (now  Salem), 
were  more  or  less  visited  by  the  awakening  and  renewing  in- 
fluences of  the  Spirit.  He  speaks  of  r-uch  a  shower  of  Di- 
vine grace  on  a  little  neighborhood  belonging  partly  in  Strong 
and  partly  in  Freeman,  as  appears  to  have  blessed  most  of 
the  adult  inhabitants.  But  the  most  powerful  work,  of  any 
extent,  was  in  Webb's  Pond  settlement,  (now  Weld).  Some 
conversions  had  occurred  here  in  1807,  as  the  result  of  a  short 
visit  he  made  in  the  latter  part  of  the  previous  year ;  and 
God  had  somewhat  blessed  the  labors  of  another  missionary 
here,  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  afterward  of  Sunnier.  But  now 
the  blessing  was  so  general,  that  '  out  of  fifty  families,  about 
one  hundred  persons  made  an  open  profession  of  religion.' 
Assisted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kellogg,  a  missionary,  and  Rev.  David 
Smith,  afterward  of  Temple,  he  organized  a  church  of  eigh- 
teen members  here,  on  the  17th  of  August.  At  this  time 

*  See  Panoplist,  and  Missionary  Magazine,  united,  August,  1810, 
p.  93. 


1809.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  179 

he  speaks  of  forty  or  fifty  as  having  indulged  hope  since  the 
winter,  and  of  others  as  under  serious  impressions.  Some  of 
the  hundred  spoken  of  above  might  have  indulged  hope  in 
1808,  and  others  during  the  remainder  of  the  missionary  year. 
The  Sabbath  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  he  tarried, 
and  received  five  more,  and  administered  the  Supper.  Be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year,  he  received  to  this  church,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  eighteen  more. 

A  few  years  previously  to  this,  a  Congregational  church 
had  been  formed  in  Temple,  but  not  on  such  grounds  as  were 
altogether  satisfactory  to  other  churches  of  the  order  in  the 
vicinity.  A  committee  had  been  appointed  by  the  Lincoln 
and  Kennebeck  association,  of  which  he  was  one,  to  visit  and 
confer  with  the  church  on  the  subject.  This  duty  was  at- 
tended to  on  the  2d  of  August.  The  members  satisfied  the 
committee  of  their  piety,  adopted  new  Articles  of  Faith  and 
Covenant,  and  were  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches.  This  church  enjoyed  a  portion  of  his  labors  during 
the  year.  At  one  time  he  met  with  them  on  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  the  particular  object  of  which  was  to  entreat  the 
Giver  of  all  good  to  send  them  a  pastor.  In  the  afternoon 
he  preached.  And  of  the  day,  he  says  :  '  Truly,  God  helped 
me  to  pray,  and  to  preach.  Almost  forgot  myself  in  the  af- 
ternoon, and  preached  till  near  night.  Did  not  feel  fatigued 
with  labor  or  fasting  till  after  meeting.  [He  had  started  from 
home  W  little  after  daylight,  and  rode  on  horseback,  in  a  storm 
and  bad  travelling,  some  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles.]  Truly,  I 
must  account  this  one  of  my  highly  favored,  happy  days.' 
His  highest  pleasures,  certainly,  were  not  found  in  earthly 
things,  or  sensual  enjoyments.  His  meat,  like  that  of  his 
Divine  Master,  was  to  do  the  witt  of  him  who  sent  him.  He 
felt  a  deep  interest  in  having  this  church  supplied  with  a  pas- 
tor. And  on  another  occasion,  while  passing  from  one  lecture- 
to  another  in  the  place,  he  says,  '  My  soul  was  so  drawn  out 
in  prayer  to  God  that  he  would  send  Mr.  Smith  here,  that  I 


180  MEMOIR     OK  [180U. 

could  scarcely  contain  myself.'  His  request  in  this  respect, 
and  that  of  the  church,  was  granted.  On  the  21st  of  the 
following  February,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Smith 
solemnly  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  placed  as 
a  spiritual  watchman  on  that  part  of  the  walls  of  Zion.  Nor 
was  his  desire  for  the  supply  of  other  churches  less.  He  had 
previously  endeavored  to  induce  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston,  who  was 
about  leaving  New  Market,  to  come  into  the  county  of  Som- 
erset ;  and,  on  his  journey  to  Boston  this  year,  called  to  urge 
his  visiting  Norridgewock,  but  was  disappointed  to  find  him 
on  the  eve  of  removing  to  Manchester,  Mass.  And  though 
the  church  in  Norridgewock  remained  destitute  -a  few  years 
more,  he  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  Rev.  Mr.  Cayford 
installed  over  the  church  and  society  at  Bloomfield,  on  the 
6th  of  September. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September  he  visited  the  Penobscot,  and 
spent  one  Sabbath  in  Hamden,  and  another  in  Brewer.  In 
the  former  place,  he  found  some  special  religious  interest.  In 
the  latter,  he  administered  the  Supper,  and  baptized  some 
children,  —  but  grieved  for  the  interests  of  religion  in  the 
place,  particularly  in  view  of  the  fact,  that,  from  the  divided 
state  of  the  people  there  and  in  Bangor,  (then,  in  religious 
interest  united,)  the  labors  of  a  pastor  were  not  likely  soon  to 
be  enjoyed.  At  this  time  he  was  lame.  About  the  middle 
of  September,  he  was  attacked  by  an  inflammation:  in  both 
insteps,  accompanied  with  headache  and  loss  of  appetit£  This 
he  attributed  to  a  cold  taken  a  few  days  previously  in  conse- 
quence of  getting  wet  by  riding  in  a  rain.  The  inflammation 
extended  upward,  and  became  troublesome  and  painful.  He 
regarded  it  as  a  kind  of  ague,  and  resorted  to  soaking  his  feet 
and  to  lotions  of  a  strong  decoction  of  herbs,  and  to  the  ap- 
plication of  poultices  and  cabbage-leaves  to  his  legs.  Some 
relief  appears  thus  to  have  been  obtained.  But  he  went  on 
with  his  work,  scarcely  diminishing  aught  from  the  rigor  of 
the  task  which  he  imposed  upon  himself;  and  it  was  not  till 


Oct.-Nov.j  JOTHAM    SKWALL.  181 

three  or  four  weeks  had  passed,  that  the  difficulty  was 
removed. 

A  few  conversions  had  occurred  in  Woolwich ;  and  con- 
siderable attention  existed  among  the  Free-will  Baptists,  in 
the  easterly  part  of  the  town.  Some  of  the  Congregational 
society  felt  it  important  that  their  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Winship, 
should  have  help.  Arrangements  were  made,  and,  with  Mr. 
Winship's  consent,  he  labored  there  during  a  part  of  October, 
November,  and  the  following  January.  Feeling  his  need 
of  grace,  and  wisdom,  and  guidance  from  on  high,  —  he  com- 
menced his  labors  here  with  a  day  of  private  fasting  and 
prayer ;  and  he  expressed  the  belief  that  he  was  enabled  to 
wrestle  with  God  in  the  exercise  of  faith.  No  record  of 
specific  results  from  the  labors  he  here  performed  are  known 
to  have  been  made  ;  but  their  influence  is  believed  to  have 
been  felt  in  the  promotion  of  evangelical  piety.  Of  a  lecture, 
which  he  preached  in  the  upper  school-house  on  the  river- 
road,  in  January,  to  a  full,  attentive,  and  solemn  assembly,  he 
says,  '  I  think  I  never  had  a  more  solemn  sense  of  delivering 
God's  message,  in  his  name.  Felt  a  confidence  that  he  was 
present ;  and  that  he  would  own  the  message.'  Before  leav- 
ing the  place,  he  observed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  with 
a  few  members  of  the  church.  He  also  made  occasional  ex- 
cursions into  the  neighboring  towns  for  lectures.  At  one 
time,  he  faced  a  snow-storm  five  and  a  half  miles,  on  foot,  to 
Arowsic  Island,  and  preached  in  the  evening. 

We  have  often  spoken  of  his  diligence,  and  the  apparent 
rapidity  of  his  movements.  The  reader  may  be  gratified  with 
a  specimen  or  two.  We  will  give  a  sketch  of  a  day's  work ; 
and  of  a  short  tour.  The  former  is  taken  from  July  of  the 
present  year ;  the  latter,  from  February  of  the  next.  He 
had  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Solon,  and  came  to  Anson,  a  dis- 
tance of  eight  or  ten  miles,  before  breakfast  Monday  morning. 
Here  he  found  that  a  young  man  had  been  drowned  the  day 
previous,  by  attempting  to  swim  a  horse  across  the  Joasiri,  (So 
16 


182  MEMOIR    OK  [1809. 

called,)  at  the  mouth  of  Seven-mile  Brook.  He  was  requested 
to  attend  the  funeral  that  afternoon.  He  had  a  lecture  ap- 
pointed in  Starks.  He  proceeded  and  attended  to  his  lecture  at 
eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  ;  borrowed  a  horse  to  rest  his  own,  which 
was  almost  constantly  in  motion;  returned  and- attended  the 
funeral  at  two  o'clock,  p.  M.  ;  and  visited,  conversed,  and  prayed 
with  a  family.  He  then  resumed  his  movement  toward  home, 
where  he  arrived  a  little  past  midnight ;  having  '  rode  about 
forty  miles,  preached  twice,  and  called  upon  several  families.' 
The  next  day,  he  was  off  to  Temple,  on  the  business  of  reor- 
ganizing the  church  already  mentioned.  In  February,  he 
had  spent  a  Sabbath  at  New  Vineyard,  administered  the 
Supper,  and  preached  three  times.  He  preached  twice  on 
Monday  and  twice  on  Tuesday,  in  different  places,  making 
various  calls.  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  he  moved  several 
miles  before  breakfast,  made  various  visits,  and  attended  to 
some  items  of  worldly  business ;  and  the  afternoon  of  the 
latter  day  found  him  at  Strong,  in  a  conference  meeting,  ex- 
amining persons,  who  a  short  time  after  were  embodied  in  a 
church.  Friday,  he  opened  a  town  meeting,  by  request,  with 
prayer,  in  Temple ;  made  arrangements  with  the  Church 
about  the  expected  ordination  of  Mr.  Smith ;  prepared  the 
letters  missive ;  preached  in  the  evening ;  and  then  went 
home.  The  next  day,  he  left  to  spend  the  Sabbath  at  Mon- 
mouth ;  reached  Readfield  corner,  and  preached  in  the  even- 
ing, and  passed  the  night.  The  next  morning,  a  friend  took 
him  in  his  sleigh,  and  carried  him  to  Monmouth,  some  ten  or 
twelve  miles.  There  he  preached  three  times.  Monday,  he 
made  a  few  calls,  returned  as  far  as  Winthrop,  preached  in 
the  afternoon,  and  then  in  the  evening  at  Readfield  corner. 
The  next  morning  he  rose  early,  read  and  meditated  a  little, 
and  then  rode  home  before  breakfast,  fourteen  miles. 

These  instance  are  not,  taken  as  the  strongest  specimens 
which  might  be  found  j^nor  yet  as  samples  of  what  occurred 
every  day  or  every  week.  Similar  things,  however,  form  no 


1810.]  JOTHAM    SEWAI.  L.  183 

inconsiderable  part  of  his  history.  It  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  him  to  rise,  and  spend  some  hours  in  reading  or 
writing,  or  in  measuring  off  a  portion  of  the  distance  to  be 
gone  over  the  next  day,  before  others  had  left  their  beds. 
This  was  often  done  without  previous  design,  when,  awaking 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  he  found  himself  sufficiently 
refreshed,  and  thought  how  much  more  he  could  accomplish 
by  improving  the  time.  And  hence  it  sometimes  occurred 
that  those  whose  hospitality  he  had  shared,  on  preparing  their 
morning's  repast  and  going  to  awake  their  guest,  found  no 
guest  to  awake. 

The  amount  of  his  absence  from  home  caused  him  often  to 
fear  that  he  neglected  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  family. 
Though  endeavoring  to  be  faithful  when  with  them,  he  felt 
that  his  children  received  not  t'lat  measure  of  religious  in- 
struction which  they  needed.  This  led  him  to  observe  the 
first  day  of  the  year  1810  as  a  season  of  family  fasting  and 
prayer.  lie  was  then  fifty  years  old,  and  his  oldest  son  a 
few  months  more  than  twenty-one.  But  the  reader  will  be 
more  interested  in  his  own  account  than  in  that  of  another  : 
'  As  I  am  so  much  away  from  my  family,  and  have  so  little 
opportunity  to  instruct  them,  concluded  to  observe  this  day 
with  them  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer.  It 
was  so  that  they  all  attended,  and  with  scarcely  any  percep- 
tible reluctance.  After  a  general  introduction  of  the  object 
and  services  of  the  day  by  addresses  and  prayer,  I  descended 
to  particulars  ;  and,  by  reading  a  portion  of  God's  word,  and 
prayer,  particularized  my  own  case  by  confession  and  peti- 
tion. Next,  my  wife,  —  and  the  conversation  with  her 
affected  me  exceedingly.  Felt  so  for  her  that  I  could  scarcely 
contain  myself.  [The  writer  well  remembers  that  this  affect- 
ing interview  was  one  of  choked  utterance  on  both  sides.] 
Then  attended  to  my  oldest  son.  Then  to  the  next  two  ;  and 
so  on  through  the  others,  particularizing  their  cases  before 
God  in  prayer,  and  concluding  by  blessing  them  severally. 


184  MEMOIR    OF  [1810 

In  a  comfortable  and  solemn  frame  afterwards,  feeling  that  ii 
some  measure  I  had  been  enabled  to  discharge  my  duty 
toward  my  family,  and  could  more  cheerfully  leave  them  with 
God.' 

The  Trustees  of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  at 
their  semi-annual  meeting  near  the  close  of  the  year,  renewed 
his  appointment  for  a  mission  in  Rhode  Island,  with  discre- 
tionary liberty,  however,  to  spend  a  portion  of  the  time  among 
the  destitute  churches,  where,  during  the  former  part  of  the 
year,  his  labors  had  been  bestowed.  As  already  observed, 
he  spent  January  in  Woolwich.  February  and  a  part  of 
March,  he  devoted  to  a  few  towns  on  <the'  Sandy  River.  On 
the  third  of  March,  a  church  of  twelve  members  was  gathered 
in  Strong,  to  which,  preaching  the  next  Sabbath  and  adminis- 
tering the  Supper,  he  receiv  3d  another. 

A  few  days  after  this,  he  left  for  Rhode  Island.  Taking 
Portland  on  his  way,  he  attended  on  the  fourteenth  the  ordina- 
tion of  Rev.  Nathan  S.  S.  Beeman,  as  pastor  of  the  new 
church  which  he  had  been  the  means  of  gathering.*  After 
entering  Massachusetts,  his  progress  seems  to  have  been 
somewhat  retarded.  Special  religious  interest  appears  to 
have  existed  in  a  number  of  towns  through  which  he  passed, 
(especially  Rowley  and  Manchester,)  and  he  was  importuned 
for  lectures.  He  also  interested  himself  in  obtaining  some 
assistance  for  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  been  recently  ordain- 
ed at  Temple.  Spending  a  Sabbath  in  Charlestown,  he 
preached  in  the  morning  in  the  State  Prison,  where  a  fellow- 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Greenleaf,  in  his  Ecclesiastical  Sketches,  says  that  Mr. 
Beeman's  ordination  as  pastor  of  this  church,  was  in  the  spring  of 
1808.  Mr.  G.  must  have  been  misinformed,  as  the  diary  before  us 
gives  a  circumstantial  account  of  the  ordination,  specifying  by  whom 
the  several  parts  were  performed.  In  the  winter  of  1808-9,  Mr.  Bee- 
man was  Preceptor  of  Lincoln  Academy,  New  Castle,  Maine.  A  short 
time  before  that,  he  had  joined  the  Congregational  Church  in  that 
place,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Kiah  Bayley,  and  about  that 
time  was  licensed  to  preach. 


1810.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  185 

• 

townsman  was  then  confined  for  an  offence  committed  against 
the  State.  He  speaks  of  the  prisoners  as  being  attentive, 
and  thfr  occasion  as  being  solemn  and  interesting  to  himself. 
Passing  on  from  Boston,  and  spending  a  Sabbath  at  Barn- 
stable  on  Cape  Cod,  he  went  to  Falmouth,  and  thence  to 
Martha's  Vineyard.  Here  he  spent  the  latter  part  of  April, 
and  preached  at  Holmes's  Hole,  Edgartown,  the  smaller 
Island  Chapoquidic,  (where  the  people  appeared  much  im- 
pressed,) Tisbury,.  Chilmark,  and  to  the  Indian  congregation 
at  Gay  Head.  On  the  thirtieth,  he  preached  in  the  fore- 
noon at  Holmes's  Hole,  and  crossed  to  Falmouth,  and  preach- 
in  the  afternoon,  and  again  in  the  evening.  Here  some  special 
attention  appears  to  have  existed  ;  and  the  next  day  he  tarried 
to  a  prayer-meeting  in  the  forenoon.  At  this,  he  remarked 
on  the  parable  of  the  sower ;  and  says :  '  Had  a  solemn 
time,  especially  in  the  last  prayer.  My  whole  soul  went  out 
to  God  for  the  souls  present,  for  the  minister,  [Rev.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln,] for  the  church,  for  those  under  impressions,  and  those 
who  are  careless.  Committed  all  to  God,  and  parted  with 
the  people  with  regret,  leaving  them  in  tears.'  He  adds,  '  A 
woman  was  very  much  impressed  under  yesterday's  sermon, 
another  last  evening,  and  another  to-day.  The  Lord  take 
them  under  his  special  care.'  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  he  preached  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Sandwich,  in  Rev.  Mr.  Burr's  meeting-house,  to  a 
full  and  attentive  assembly.  The  next  day,  he  preached 
twice  in  Sandwich,  and  twice  in  Wareham.  These  meetings 
he  appears  to  have  enjoyed  very  much  ;  and  exclaimed  at  the 
close  of  the  day,  '"What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his 
kindness  ? '  The  day  following,  he  preached  at  Rochester ; 
and  after  enjoying  a  sweet  interview  with  a  few  Christian 
friends,  and  a  solemn,  melting  season  in  prayer  before  they 
parted,  he  says,  '  Oh,  how  many  of  God's  people  are  scattered 
about  in  the  world  !  how  sweet  is  it  to  enjoy  communion  with 
them  here  !  But  how  much  better  will  it  be  to  enjoy  com- 
16* 


186  MEMOIR     OF  [1810. 

• 

munion  with  all  the  saints  in  glory,  where  the  light  of  God's 
countenance  will  beam  forever  upon  the  soul ! ' 

Spending  a  Sabbath  at  New  Bedford,  where,  he  preached 
four  times,  and  preaching  twice  the  next  day  at  Dartmouth, 
where  his  '  soul  was  much  filled  with  love  to  Christ  and  souls,' 
— he  reached  Little  Compton,  R\  L,  on  the  eighth  of  May. 
Here  he  gave  an  evening  lecture ;  and  another  the  next  even- 
ing at  Newport, — and  the  day  following,  he  crossed  the  ferries 
and  went  to  South  Kingston.  Here  he  spent  the  following 
Sabbath,  preaching  four  times. 

During  his  stay  of  a  little  less  than  three  weeks,  he 
traversed  the  State  ;  and  besides  the  places  above  named,  he 
preached  at  Pawtuxet,  E.  Greenwich,  Wickford,  Richmond, 
Charlestown,  Pawcatuck  Bridge,  Hopkinton,  W.  Greenwich, 
Gloucester,  Cumberland,  and  Providence.  He  met  with 
some  obstacles  from  the  existence  of  strong  prejudices  against 
the  '  Presbyterians,'  (as  '  all  beside  Baptists  and  Quakers 
were  called  ; '  )  from  great  indifference  to  religion,  and  disre- 
gard of  the  Sabbath.  But  the  manifest  fervor  of  his  piety 
and  engagedness  of  his  address,  secured  for  him,  generally, 
full  and  attentive  assemblies ;  and,  in  some  instances,  his  hear- 
ers were  considerably  affected.  After  his  second  Sabbath,  at 
Little-Rest  in  South  Kingston,  several  of  the  principal  inhab- 
itants requested  him,  with  tears,  to  visit  them  again.  He  felt 
that  in  this  place  there  was  a  hearing  ear,  and  that  good 
might  be  done  if  the  means  could  be  continued.  He  found 
religion  in  general  extremely  low,  and  the  churches  in  a 
pitiable  condition.  The  Seventh-day  Baptists  were  generally 
Arminian  in  sentiment;  and  family-worship,  and  worship  at 
meals,  was  neglected  by  most  professors,  and  by  some  minis- 
ters. The  state  of  things,  as  we  shall  have  occasion  here- 
after to  remark,  has  since  improved.  He  closed  his  mission 
in  Rhode  Island  on  the  28th  of  May,  and  came  to  Boston  to 
attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the.  Missionary  Society.  In 
twenty-nine  weeks,  —  which  he  had  spent  in  its  employ  during 


Ma)'.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  187 

the  year,  —  beside  various  other  labors  reported,  he  had 
preached  two  hundred  and  forty -nine  times,  which,  had  he 
added  three  sermons  more,  would  have  made  eight  times  a 
week  for  the  whole  period.  ,. 

From  his  return  home  to  the  close  of  the  year,  excepting 
five  Sabbaths  in  Woolwich,  he  labored  in  destitute  towns  in 
the  counties  of  Somerset,  Oxford,  Kennebeck,  and  (what  is 
now)  Franklin.  During  this  period,  a  passage  occurs  in  his 
history  which  reminds  one  of  Nehemiah  and  his  associates. 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  taken  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
church  in  Temple,  and  was  about  to  remove  thither,  found  it 
necessary  to  erect  a  house  ;  and  the  feeble  state  of  the  society, 
as  well  as  his  own  circumstances,  rendered  it  desirable  that 
he  should  receive  assistance.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  had 
not  forgotten  the  use  of  the  stone-hammer  or  the  trowel ; 
and.  while  the  ministry  was  his  great  work,  he  was  ready  for 
any  service  by  which  he  might  strengthen  and  advance  the 
interests  of  Zion.  At  intervals  during  the  autumn,  his  me- 
chanical skill  was  put  in  requisition  to  aid  the  brother  whom 
he  loved,  and  in  whose  establishment  and  prosperity  he  felt  a 
deep  interest.  And  yet,  while  thus  employed,  one  can  per- 
ceive but  a  slight  diminution  of  his  ministerial  labors.  Every 
Sabbath  he  is  as  deeply  engaged  in  his  appropriate  work  as 
ever ;  and  during  the  week  he  is  seen  running  in  almost  all 
directions  for  lectures.  And  then,  that  he  might  not  fail 
of  advancing  in  the  labor  of  his  hands,  he  would  often  ride 
miles  before  others  had  broken  from  their  repose.  The  transi- 
tion from  his  previous  trade  to  the  duties  of  his  higher  call  ing, 
and  then  back  again  to  the  apron  and  the  trowel  was  not  dif- 
ficult for  one,  the  kindness  and  devotedness  of  whose  .heart 
prompted  the  wish  to  become  all  things  to  all  men  ;  and  the 
readiness  of  whose  mind  qualified  him  eminently  for  doing  it. 
And  the  ease  with  which  the  transition  was  made  places  him 
before  us  in  a  striking  resemblance  to  those  who  were  rebuild- 
ing the  walls  of  Jerusalem ;  with  the  implements  of  a  previ- 


188  MEMOIR    OF  [1810. 

% 

ous  craft  on  the  one  side,  and  those  of  his  spiritual  warfare 
on  the  other,  ready,  in  either  case,  to  be  seized  at  a  moment's 
warning,  as  circumstances  might  require.  And  if  he  did  not 
always  toil  till  the  stars  appeared,  he  made  up  the  score  of 
diligence,  in  two  instances  at  least,  by  laboring  till  two  or 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  complete  a  job  which  could 
not  be  conveniently  left  unfinished. 

We  should  scarcely  expect  that  one  whose  treasure  was  man- 
ifestly in  heaven,  and  who  obviously  held  the  things  of  this 
world  with  a  loose  hand,  would  pray  for  an  increase  of  proper- 
ty. And  it  may,  perhaps,  surprise  the  reader  to  hear  him  say, 
while  lying  awake  and  praying  for  his  wife  and  children,  and 
other  tilings,  —  'Besought  God  for  worldly  prosperity.'  This 
may  seem  to  be  quite  at  variance  with  the  current  of  his  re- 
ligious history  hitherto  ;  and  the  pious  reader  may  be  ready 
to  shrink  back  as  if  we  were  approaching  a  fearful  rock  with 
which  he  narrowly  escaped  a  fatal  collision.  But  he  whose 
heart  is  singly  set  on  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom 
may  safely  and  properly  present  petitions,  which,  to  others, 
might  be  unsuitable  or  dangerous.  He  has  learned  the  high 
purposes  which  property  may  subserve,  —  and  while  he  loves 
it  less  than  do  others,  he  may  value  it  more.  The  reason  of 
the  above  petition  is  immediately  subjoined,  —  'that  I  might 
be  able  to  do  more  for  the  interests  of  religion,'  especially  in 
forwarding  the  settlement  of  ministers.'  He  longed  to  see 
the  destitute  churches  around  him  furnished  with  pastors. 
And  he  was  willing  to  do  more  than  exert  an  influence,  as  he 
frequently  had.  to  induce  ministers  to  come,  into 'the  then 
'  District  of  Maine.'  It  would  have  gratified  his  benevolence 
to  have  had  the  means  of  contributing  largely  for  their  com- 
fortable establishment. 

During  the  year,  aside  from  the  social  fasts  already  men- 
tioned, he  met  once  with  the  church  in  N.  Sharon,  and  once 
with  the  church  in  Weld,  for  fasting  and  prayer.  The  object 
of  these  meetings,  more  especially  the  latter,  was  to  entreat 


March-June.]        JOTHAM   SB  WALL.  189 

the  gift  of  a  pastor.  Of  a  lecture  following  the  latter,  he 
says,  '  Enjoyed  a  solemn  time,  especially  in  the  first  prayer. 
Think  I  never  got  a  more  solemn  nearness  to  God  in  my  life. 
Think  I  exercised  some  faith  for  the  settlement  of  a  minister 
here.'  He  also  observed  one  clay  of  private  fasting  and  prayer. 
The  years  1809-10  appear  to  have  been  of  uncommon  in- 
terest to  many  churches.  Beside  the  revivals  already  men- 
tioned in  many  towns  on  the  Sandy  river,  he  speaks  of  one 
in  Winthrop,  another  in  Bath,  and  some  special  attention  in 
Portland  and  Cape  Elizabeth.  In  the  latter  of  these  years, 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  baptizing  Daniel  Campbell,  Esq,  then 
a  lawyer  at  Readfield  Corner,  who  had  recently  given  inter- 
esting evidence  of  piety,  and  who  subsequently  became  an 
interesting  and  useful  minister  of  the  Gospel.* 

In  the  former  part  of  1811,  he  labored  in  destitute  towns 
in  the  counties  of  Somerset,  Kennebeck,  Lincoln,  and  Waldo. 
About  the  middle  of  March,  he  went  eastward,  and  spent  a 
few  weeks  on  the  Penobscot.  As  he  went,  he  spent  a  Sab- 
bath in  Waldoboro',  preaching  to  the  German  church,  whose 
pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Ritz,  had  recently  died.  In  the  evening,  he 
gave  a  lecture  in  the  village  to  a  full  and  attentive  assembly. 
This  lecture  was  peculiarly  blessed.  A  number  were  im- 
pressed ;  with  whom,  as  they  lingered  after  meeting,  he  en- 
joyed a  solemn  season  in  conversation  and  prayer.  The  work 
went  on,  —  and  when  he  finished  his  missionary  journal  for 
the  year,  in  May,  he  said :  '  God  was  pleased  to  bless  my 
visit  to  Waldoboro',  in  March  last,  to  the  conversion  of  several 
souls.  The  last  meeting  which  I  held  there,  [the  lecture 

*  This  excellent  man,  in  whose  conversion  he  was  materially  instru- 
ment*!, after  being  a  pastor  for  a  short  time  ^•fennebunk,  and  labor- 
ing a  few  months  in  Saratoga  and  Greenfield,  N.  Y.,  was  settled  in 
(Word.  N.  II.  Here  lu>  labored  about  fifteen  years,  sustaining  the  pas- 
toral relation  till  a  short  time  previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  1,  1849. 


190  MEMOIR     OF  [1811. 

above  referred  to,]  exhibited  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  af- 
fecting scenes  I  ever  witnessed.  It  proved  the  beginning  of 
a  reformation.  The  last  accounts  which  I  have  received, 
state  that  sixteen  persons  in  that  place  have  obtained  a  hope 
that  they  have  passed  from  death  unto  life ;  and  that  others 
are  anxious.'  In  June  he  labored  there  a  few  weeks ;  and  a 
number  were  propounded  for  admission  to  the  Congregational 
church.  The  result  of  this  work  of  grace  was  a  decided  im- 
provement in  the  religious  state  of  the  village  and  the  town, 
the  good  effects  of  which  have  been  felt  ever  since. 

His  journal  above  referred  to  states,  that  for  the  missionary 
year  ending  in  May,  he  had  spent  thirty  weeks  in  the  service 
of  the  Massachusetts  society,  during  which  he  had  travelled 
nearly  two  thousand  miles  ;  preached  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  times,  [being  eight  and  a  half  tinies  every  week ;]  visited 
two  hundred  and  thirty-six  families,  and  performed  various 
other  labors.  This  year  he  also  labored  a  few  weeks  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society, —  whose  an- 
niversary he  attended  at  Portland,  June  26th. 

During  July  and  August,  he  labored  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
residence.  The  last  season,  and  the  present,  some  special  re- 
ligious interest  existed  in  the  little  neighborhood  in  which  he 
dwelt ;  and  a  few  youth  were  hopeful  subjects  of  renewing 
grace.  But  his  prayers  in  relation  to  his  own  family,  it  is 
painful  to  say,  remained  yet  unanswered.  Like  the  '  father 
of  the  faithful,'  his  faith  was  long  tried.  To  the  pious  reader 
it  will  doubtless  seem  strange  that  it  should  have  been  so. 
Before  this,  when  he  has  witnessed  the  stragglings  of  his  im- 
portunity, he  has  doubtless,  more  than  once,  thought  that  he 
was  on  the  eve  of  receiving  the  blessing.  Why  God  thus 
peculiarly  tries  the^kith  of  some  of  his  people,  he  does  not 
inform  us.  But  it  is  a  characteristic  of  true  appropriating 
faith,  like  that  of  Jacob,  never  to  yield.  Its  hold  on  the 
Divine  promises  is  fixed ;  and  its  importunity,  instead  of  being 
checked  and  diminished  by  discouragements,  increases.  So 


July-Sept.]  jeniAM   SEW  ALL.  191 

it  was  (if  we  can  well  conceive  of  an  increase),  in  the  case 
before  us.  Hence  the  following  entries  :  '  Think  I  had  some 
realizing  sense  of  the  inexpressible  anguish  of  being  eternally 
separated  from  God's  favorable  presence ;  —  longed  for  the 
conversion  of  my  children.'  '  Think  I  exercised  some  faith 
for  my  children ;  in  secret,  especially,  pleaded  to  an  agony. 
Oh,  Lord,  with  thee  I  leave  my  requests.'  '  At  noon,  retired 
for  prayer ;  my  whole  soul  seemed  on  the  stretch  to  God  for 
the  conversion  of  my  children.'  The  writer,  who  was  one 
of  those  for  whom  this  parental  solicitude  was  felt,  and  who 
often  witnessed  its  gushings. —  as  he  looks  back  is  astonished 
to  think  how  it  was,  that,  under  such  religious  influences,  he 
thought  and  felt  no  more !  In  view  of  the  painful  fact  before 
us,  it  is  proper  for  him,  with  humility  and  tears,  to  say,  that 
like  the  offspring  of  Abraham,  the  children  were  unworthy 
of  their  parentage.  He  would  not,  however,  have  this  re- 
mark understood  as  implying  any  reproach  upon  religion  or 
religious  training  by  insinuating  any  deviation  in  them  from 
strict  outward  morality  and  respectability.  It  is  used  only  of 
their  religious  indifference,  and  the  tardiness  with  which  they 
entered  and  walked  in  the  path  of  piety  which  he  trod. 

Near  the  beginning  of  September,  he  left  for  a  tour  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  State.  Taking  an  upper  route  to  Bangor, 
and  spending  a  little  time  on  the  Penobscot,  he  passed  from 
Eddington  to  Mariaville,  and  thence  as  far  a's  New  Bruns- 
wick, passing  over  the  same  ground  which  he^had  done  twice 
or  thrice  before.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Sullivan,  an  exten- 
sive revival  had  existed,  and  a  Baptist  church  had  been 
gathered  qf  nearly  a  hundred  members.  The  small  Congre- 
gational church  which  had  been  organized  in  Sullivan  ten 
years  previous,  was  greatly  reduced.  One  member  had  died; 
two  had  removed ;  four  had  become  Baptists,  and  only  two 
males  and  two  females  remained.  His  visit  at  this  time,  af- 
forded it  some  encouragement  He  received  three  to  its 
communion,  and  one  more  as  he  returned  in  December.  In 


192  MEMOIR     OK  [1812. 

Machias  a  work  of  grace  had  been  in  progress  under  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Steele ;  and  substantial  additions  had 
been  made  to  the  church.  On  the  23d  of  November,  he  ex- 
amined six  persons  in  Robbinston,  preparatory  to  a  public 
profession  of  religion.  At  first,  he  says  it  was  proposed  to 
add  them  to  the  church  then  existing  at  Dennysville ;  but 
on  the  whole  it  was  thought  best  to  organize  them  separately. 
On  the  following  day,  which  was  Sabbath,  they  publicly 
assented  to  articles  of  faith  and  covenant,  and  were  received 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  churches  as  a  distinct  body.  The 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  them  and 
a  number  of  occasional  communicants  present,  which,  he  says, 
was  the  first  time  of  its  administration  in  the  place.  It  was 
a  solemn,  interesting  season.  In  the  formation  of  this  church, 
he  had  the  advice  and  assistance  of  a  Rev.  Mr.  Abbot,  then 
laboring  as  a  missionary  in  Eastport,  who,  though  not  present 
at  the  examination  of  the  candidates,  was  present  at  its 
organization. 

On  his  return,  he  descended  Chandler's  River,  and  visited 
Mispecky  Reach  and  Beale's  Island,  which  lie  between  the 
mouths  of  that  and  Pleasant  River.  The  reader  will  probably 
recollect  his  having  visited  the  Island  once  before. 

Near  the  beginning  of  January,  1812,  as  he  passed  home- 
ward, he  spent  a  night  in  Norridgewock.  Leaving  the  place 
he  says :  '  Had  such  a  sense  of  the  situation  of  the  church  and 
people  in  this  place,  and  such  desires  that  God  would  appear 
for  them,  and  grant  them  a  faithful  pastor,  that  I  went  on 
sobbing  and  crying.  Sometimes  it  was  difficult  to  keep  ray 
bursting  heart  from  giving  utterance  to  its  emotigns  in  loud 
cries.  Cannot  help  thinking  that  God  will  appear  for  them 
in  his  own  good  time.' 

A  month  after  this,  he  observed  a  season  of  fasting  and 
prayer  with  that  church.  The  following  Sabbath,  he  makes 
a  record  against  himself  which  involves  a  principle  of  some 
importance.  '  Had  a  very  solemn  season  last  evening  in 


1812.]  JOT  HAM     SEW  ALL.  193 

family  prayer.  I  think  it  is  not  a  good  symptom  in  favor  of 
my  religion,  that  for  some  time  past  I  have  enjoyed  more 
liberty  and  enlargement  in  public  and  social  prayer  than  in 
secret  It  appears  to  me  that  a  true  Christian  will  have  the 
most  of  his  sweet  intercourse  with  God  in  private.'  That 
religion,  the  greatest  fervency  of  which  is  in  the  presence  of 
others,  is  in  danger  of  consisting  more  of  sympathy  and  ex- 
citement, than  of  the  deeper  and  essential  elements  of  love 
and  faith. 

During  this  tour,  which  occupied  him  four  months,  accord- 
ing to  an  agreement  with  a  Christian  friend  to  join  him  in  the 
exercise,  he  spent  the  third  Wednesday  of  every  month  in 
private  fasting  and  prayer.  The  object  of  this  was  to  spread 
certain  important  things  before  God.  He  had  previously 
observed  two  such  seasons  during  the  year,  the  special  object 
of  one  of  which  was  to  entreat  God  in  behalf  of  an  uncon- 
verted friend  in  an  anxious  and  somewhat  desponding  state 
of  mind ;  *  and  that  of  the  other,  to  ask  mercy  for  the  new 
church  in  Portland,  which  was  laboring  under  embarrassment, 
and  which,  according  to  agreement,  was  to  observe  the  day 
in  the  same  manner.  All  these  were  days  of  comfortable 
nearness  to  God,  and  earnestness  of  intercession. 

For  a  few  weeks  subsequently  to  his  return,  he  labored  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  residence.  He  then  left  for  Rhode  Island. 
Passing  through  Rumford,  he  found  a  gentleman  past  seventy 
years  of  age,  who  had  recently  made  profession  of  religion, 
who  ascribed  his  conversion  to  his  preaching  and  conversa- 
tion when  there,  a  year  previous.  Of  this,  he  says :  '  God 
can  make  use  of  clay  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind.'  Visit- 
ing Shelburne,  where  he  had  been  between  eight  and  nine 
years  before,  he  found  a  lady,  hopefully  a  friend  of  Christ, 
who  attributed  her  happy  change,  under  God,  to  his  instru- 
mentality at  that  time. 

In  proceeding  to  Rhode  Island,  he  passed  through  Worces- 

*  Mrs.  Campbell,  wife  of  Rev.  Daniel  Campbell. 
17 


194  MEMOIR    OF  [1812. 

ter  and  Douglas  in  Massachusetts.  The  latter  place  reminded 
him  of  former  times,  when,  'in  December,  1776,  (he  says,) 
I  passed  through  this  town  as  a  soldier  to  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  returned  in  March,  1777,  thirty-five  years  ago  the 
present  month.  Little  did  I  then  think  of  ever  being  this 
way  in  the  capacity  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  —  a  soldier 
under  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  carry  on  a  war  against  Satan's 
kingdom.  Oh,  to  be  made  successful ! ' 

He  labored  in  Rhode  Island  till  near  the  close  of  May, 
traversing,  as  he  did  before,  most  of  the  State.  He  was 
pained,  as  previously,  by  the  prevalent  laxness  of  moral  and 
religious  principle  and  practice,  particularly  in  respect  to  the 
Sabbath.  The  first  sound  which  he  heard,  as  he  awaked  on 
the  first  holy  morning  after  entering  the  State,  was  that  of  a 
saw-mill  hi  operation.  This,  however,  ceased  before  break- 
fast-time. On  the  same  day,  he  saw  a  man  taking  a  gunning 
excursion,  and  heard  the  report  of  guns.  Others  he  saw 
going  to  a  store  for  purposes  of  trade.  He  speaks  of  sports, 
such  as  gunning  and  playing  ball,  as  somewhat  common. 
And  the  writer  remembers  to  have  heard  him  say,  after 
returning  from  one  of  his  missions  in  that  State,  that  he  had 
preached  in  a  meeting-house  on  the  Sabbath,  before  the  doors 
of  which  boys  were  enjoying  a  game  of  ball  all  the  time  of 
service  ;  and  at  another,  that  a  man,  during  the  same  time, 
was  carting  manure  by  the  place  of  worship.  On  another 
occasion,  going  to  meeting  Sabbath  morning,  he  saw  a  man 
yoking  his  oxen,  and  invited  him  to  attend  public  worship. 
The  man  declined,  saying  he  believed  it  would  be  more  pro- 
fitable for  him  to  work.  God  does  visit  the  iniquity  of  fehe 
fathers  upon  the  children  ;  and  when  once  the  sanctity  of  the 
Sabbath  is  broken  down  by  a  denial  of  its  being  a  positive 
Divine  institution,  the  floodgates  of  immorality  are  opened ; 
and  what  a  deepening,  widening,  desolating  current  may  roll 
down  upon  posterity,  no  human  foresight  can  predict 

To  these  causes  of  sorrow,  there  was,  however,  some  relief. 


1812.]  JOT  HAM     SETT  ALL.  195 

Upon  the  city  of  Providence,  God  was,  to  some  extent,  pour- 
ing out  his  Spirit;  and  in  Scituate,  some  special  attention  to 
religion  existed. 

Toward  the  close  of  May,  he  left,  and  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Missionary  Society  at  Boston  on  the  26th.  He 
had  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Society  during  the  year  ;  and 
reported  having  visited  six  hundred  and  eighteen  families ; 
delivered  three  hundred  and  seventy-nine  sermons,  (which  is 
fourteen  more  than  one  for  every  day;)  and,  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  labors,  travelled  nearly  three  thousand  miles. 

The  subsequent  part  of  this  year,  he  devoted  to  different 
towns  in  the  counties  of  Kennebeek,  Oxford,  Franklin,  Somer- 
set, and  Waldo.  Some  special  religious  interest  existed  in  a 
number  of  places  ;  but  especially  in  Dixfield.  Here,  for  the 
size  of  the  place,  was  quite  a  powerful  work  ;  and  toward  the 
close  of  the  year,  he  received  twelve  to  the.  communion  of 
the  church  at  one  time. 

During  this  portion  of  the  year,  he  attended  a  number  of 
ministerial  prayer-meetings.  These  somewhat  resembled  our 
present  County  Conferences,  excepting  that  there  was  no 
formality  in  their  organization.  Clergymen  and  laymen 
came  together  from  different  places,  and  spent  a  season  in 
grayer  and  mutual  exhortation  ;  and  then  enjoyed  a  sermon. 
Of  the  origin  of  these  he  furnishes  no  account.  It  is  not  un- 
likely that  the  thought  was  suggested  by  a  similar  meeting 
which  he  found  in  the  southern  part  of  Massachusetts,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Uxbridge  and  Douglas,  and  which  he  once  or  twice 
attended  while  on  his  last  mission  in  Rhode  Island.  These 
meetings  appear  to  have  been  peculiarly  solemn  and  interest- 
ing. The  first  which  he  mentions  was  held  at  Dixfield,  ap- 
parently near  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  revival 
there,  and  was  blessed  as  the  means  of  bringing  at  least  one 
soul  into  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel  at  the  time.  Another  of 
these  meetings  was  held  at  Temple,  another  at  Chesterville, 
and  another  at  Dixfield,  before  the  close  of  the  year.  Of  a 


196  MEMOIR     OF  [1812. 

lecture  which  he  preached  at  the  last-mentioned  place  the 
evening  previous  to  the  meeting,  he  says, '  Truly,  it  was  a 
solemn  time.  Much  attention  was  in  the  assembly,  and  many 
were  in  tears.'  And  here  we  may  say,  of  another  place  where 
he  preached  all  day  from  1  Jn.  5 :  10,  "  He  that  believeth  on 
the  Son  of  God  hath  the  witness  in  himself:  he  that  believeth 
not  God,  hath  made  him  a  liar,"  etc.,  that  though  no  special 
attention  is  mentioned  as  existing  there  at  the  time,  many 
were  in  tears,  under  the  force  of  the  truth  which  he  pressed 
upon  their  consciences. 

No  item  of  intelligence  respecting  the  origin  of  the  Tem- 
perance movement  which  has  so  extensively  blessed  our  land 
and  other  lands,  should  be  regarded  as  destitute  of  interest. 
It  is  cheering  to  know  that  eyes  which  saw  the  evils  of  in- 
temperance, and  hearts  which  mourned  over  them,  saw  also 
the  true  and  only  remedy,  and  were  ready  to  apply  it.  And 
the  fact,  that  the  purifying  leaven,  as  the  genuine  result  of 
the  principles  of  the  Gospel,  was  working  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  good  men,  and  that  organizations  existed  among 
them,  and  pledges  were  adopted  prior  to  the  popular  move- 
ment, is  an  illustration  of  the  truth  uttered  by  the  Great  Head 
of  the  Church,  when  he  said  of  his  followers, "  Ye  are  the  salt 
of  the  earth."  ^ 

It  is  probably  not  generally  known,  that  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  to  a  considerable  extent,  began  to  move  upon  the 
subject  as  early  as  the  year  now  before  us.  In  accordance 
with  movements  in  '  several'  other '  associations,'  that  to  which 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  belonged,  in  October  adopted  the 
following  as  their  rule  :  '  That  we  will  ourselves,  and  in  our 
families,  abstain  from  the'  use  of  strong  drink,  except  as  a 
medicine,  and  will  use  our  influence  to  have  others  renounce 
the  practice,  and  to  have  it  understood  that  civility  does  not 
require,  and  expediency  does  not  permit,  the  production 
[offering]  of  it  as  a  part  of  hospitable  entertainment  in  social 
visits.'  Here  we  see  the  elements  at  work  which,  like  a 


1812.]  JOTHAM    9  K  WALL.  197 

purifying  fire,  kindled  and  spread  through  this  and  other 
countries,  burning  out  as  it  went  the  pollutions  of  intemper- 
ance. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  introduce  an  illustration  or  two 
of  the  ease  with  which  the  subject  of  these  remarks  adapted 
himself  to  circumstances.  In  prayer,  he  was  always  remark- 
able for  seizing  on  incidents,  and  weaving  them  into  petitions 
or  arguments  ;  or  presenting,  with  ease,  appropriateness,  and 
effect,  the  cases  of  persons  to  whom  they  referred.  This  was 
not  less  a  natural  than  an  acquired  talent.  And  this  power 
of  adaptation  was  scarcely  less  in  sermonizing  than  in  prayer. 
A  sudden  occurrence  would  sometimes  entirely  change  the 
subject  on  which  he  was  about  to  speak ;  or  give  a  new  turn 
to  a  discourse  already  in  his  mind  ;  or  furnish  a  striking 
illustration ;  or  give  rise  to  an  impressive  train  of  remarks ; 
even  when  there  seemed  no  time  or  place  for  an  alteration. 
This  not  only  secured  to  him  increased  attention,  but  often 
gave  him  a  power  over  the  consciences  and  hearts  of  his 
bearers  which,  he  could  not  otherwise  have  possessed.  The 
instances  here  given,  as  occurring  in  the  present  period  of  his 
history  do  not,  indeed,  so  much  illustrate  this  last  remark  as 
one  or  more  which  will  be  subsequently  introduced.  They 
show  in  general  his  readiness  in  this  respect ;  and  the  interest 
which  some  of  his  hearers  must  have  felt  in  his  discourses  ; 
and  their  immediate  effectiveness  to  some  extent ;  and  the 
fact  that  the  truths  he  uttered  were  so  associated,  in  some 
minds  at  least,  as  not  easily  to  be  forgotten.  It  was  Sabbath 
morning  ;  and  he  was  just  about  to  commence  public  worship. 
A  pious  friend  informed  him  of  the  death  of  a  brother  of  his 
wife  at  the  West,  a  pious  man,  and  requested  public  prayer. 
Dropping  the  subject  he  had  in  mind,  he  commenced  the 
services,  and  rose  and  announced  his  text,  John  1 1 :  23,  "  Thy 
brother  shall  rise  again."  With  much  freedom,  solemnity, 
and  tenderness,  he  dwelt  on  the  fact,  and  the  reasons  of  it, 
that  saints  must  die ;  and  then  upon  the  resurrection ;  and 
17* 


198  MEMOIR    OP  [1812. 

no  one  can  doubt  that  Christians  in  general  were  edified,  and 
the  afflicted  sister  in  particular  was  comforted.  At  an  even- 
ing lecture,  having  before  him  two  couples  who  had  been 
married  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  he  took  the  passage, 
Matt.  24 :  38,  39,  "  For  as  it  was  in  the  days  that  were  before 
the  flood,  they  were  eating  and  drinking,  marrying  and  giving 
in  marriage,"  etc.  At  the  close,  he  enforced  his  subject  par- 
ticularly upon  the  nuptial  pairs ;  and  the  joy  of  their  new 
relation  was  sealed  by  tears  of  serious  thought,  which  it  is 
hoped  was  not  without  profit  to  their  souls.  Two  of  them  not 
long  after  became  hopefully  piou?. 

An  interview  which  he  had  with  a  Universalist  is  not  in- 
apposite to  the  point  before  us.  The  man  maintained  that 
the  immortal  spirit  came  from  God,  and  did  not  sin  ;  that 
the  earthly  part  only  sinned  ;  and  that  these  were  separated 
at  death,  which  was  the  final  separation  between  the  right- 
eous and  the  wicked.  '  I  asked  him  what  need  there  was  of  a 
Saviour  for  the  innocent  part  of  man,  which  was  the  only 
part  saved.  He  replied,  Because  it  was  slain  by  the  law, 
and  must  be  made  alive  by  Christ.  I  asked  what  law  God 
ever  made  to  slay  an  innocent  being  or  thing.  He  appeared 
confounded  when  I  pressed  him  with  the  fact  that  his  plan 
admitted  of  no  Saviour,  —  that  the  sinless  part  of  man  could 
not  be  relieved  by  an  atonement  from  a  condemnation  it  was 
never  under ;  and  as  the  earthly  part  went  to  the  dust  and 
perished,  and  was  not  saved,  that  needed  no  Saviour.' 

During  this  year,  the  aforementioned  agreement  with  a 
Christian  brother  for  a  monthly  private  fast  was  observed. 
On  one  of  these  occasions  he  says, '  Felt  much  for  my  wife  and 
children.  My  heart  was  ready  to  melt  and  break  for  them. 
Oh  !  when  will  God  in  mercy  appear  for  them  ?  What  is  it 
prevents  thy  mercy,  O  Lord  ? '  At  another  time  not  far  from 
this,  he  says :  '  In  an  uncommon  frame  this  morning  in  family 
prayer.  My  soul  seemed  to  melt  within  me  for  the  conver- 
sion of  mv  children  and  others.'  And  the  remark  which 


1812.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL."  199 

follows  shows  how  highly  he  valued  such  interviews  with 
God :  '  Blessed,  blessed  be  God  for  this  season  ! '  The  next 
Sabbath  evening,  he  held  a  kind  of  family  conference,  and 
conversed  with  each  of  his  children  respecting  their  souls. 
And  it  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  add,  that  he  sometimes 
turned  the  signification  of  their  names  into  petitions  in  their 
behalf  in  family  prayer  ;  and  at  others,  made  use  of  thoughts 
suggested  by  the  characters  of  those  whose  names  they  bore. 

This  year,  while  the  church  at  Bloomfield  was  deprived 
of  its  pastor  by  dismission,  he  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  see- 
ing his  brother-in-law,  Henry  Sewall,  ordained  at  Hebron  on 
the  seventh  of  October ;  Rev.  Mr.  Ellingwood  ordained  at 
Bath  on  the  fourth  of  November ;  and  on  the  seventeenth  of 
the  latter  month,  a  small  Congregational  Church  gathered  in 
Pittston,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Kendrick  placed  over  it  in  the 
ministry. 

At  the  end  of  the  year,  he  says :  '  So  closes  another  year. 
Thousands  and  thousands,  since  its  commencement,  have  gone 
to  the  eternal  world.  Vast  numbers  have  been  cut  off  in 
European  wars,  and  some  in  this  country ;  *  and  multitudes 
have  died  by  other  means.  Many,  no  doubt,  are  now  in 
heaven  praising  God.  An  eternal  end  is  put  to  all  their 
trials  ;  and  they  are  joining  the  songs  of  angels  and  seraphim 
around  the  throne. 

"  Oh,  happy  state !  oh,  blest  abode  ! 
To  dwell  so  near  their  Saviour  God  !  " 

'  Numbers  also  are  groaning  in  darkness  and  misery.  All 
their  fancied  joys  and  anticipated  pleasures  have  forever  fled ; 
and  not  another  proposal  of  mercy  is  to  be  made  them  ! 

"  And  yet  tliou  lengthencst  out  my  thread  ; 
And  yet  my  moments  run." 

'  How  many  have  been  my  sins  the  past  year ;  and  how 
many  mercies  have  I  enjoyed  !  And,  oh,  how  little  have  I 

*  This  year,  war  had  been  declared  against  England. 


200  MEMOIR     OF  [1813. 

done  for  God !  Were  it  not  for  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
I  could  have  no  hope.  Daily  sins  need  daily  absolution  ;  and 
what  a  privilege  it  is  that  such  a  fountain  is  opened  for  the 
house  of  David  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  to  wash  in 
from  sin  and  uncleanness  !  God  will  get  to  himself  glory  in 
the  plan  of  redemption  and  its  effects  among  creatures ;  and 
I,  if  I  am  one  of  his  children,  shall  be  blessed  in  beholding  it 
May  that  be  my  happiness  in  that  world  where 

"  Years  of  long  salvation  roll, 
And  glory  never  dies."  ' 

Toward  the  close  of  January,  1813,  he  left  for  a  third 
mission  in  Rhode  Island.  As  he  passed  on  to  his  field  of 
labor,  he  noted  a  few  things  of  interest.  In  "Wells,  an  inter- 
esting revival  had  existed  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr. 
White,  who  was  ordained  there  the  June  previous.  Some 
fifteen  had  been  added  to  the  church  ;  and  about  twenty  more 
were  hopeful  subjects  of  renewing  grace.  Many  tears  were 
shed  during  a  lecture  which  he  preached  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town.  And  it  would  seem  that  some  thoughtful- 
ness  existed  in  York  ;  for,  at  a  Monday  evening  lecture  in 
the  first  parish  where  he  had  preached  the  previous  day,  he 
was  surprised  to  see  the  number  collected,  and  was  told  that 
some  came  seven  miles ;  and  this,  though  the  travelling 
was  very  bad.  In  Haverhill,  a  work  of  grace  existed.  More 
than  sixty  had  indulged  hope  ;  and  the  attention  continued. 

He  reached  Rhode  Island  in  February,  and  entered  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.  Here  he  found  some  things  en- 
couraging. In  Little  Compton,  a  revival  was  in  progress. 
A  number  had  indulged  hope,  and  others  were  anxious. 
Here  he  enjoyed  some  solemn  seasons.  Most  of  his  labor  in 
this  part  of  the  State,  however,  appears  to  have  been  bestowed 
on  Tiverton.  Here,  beside  lectures,  he  preached  a  number 
of  Sabbaths,  and  observed  a  season  of  social  fasting  and  prayer 
for  an  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit,  particularly  on  that  place. 
Another  minister,  and  a  number  of  persons  from  Little 


1813.]  JOTHAM    SKWALL.  201 

Compton,  were  present ;  and  the  day  was  one  of  solemnity 
and  interest. 

Toward  the  close  of  March,  he  passed  through  Bristol  and 
Providence  to  the  upper  and  western  parts  of  the  State.  In 
Bristol,  a  special  work  of  saving  mercy  existed ;  and  nearly 
ninety  had  been  added  to  the  church.  In  Cumberland,  where 
he  spent  the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  a  state  of  things  not  so 
agreeable  existed.  In  the  forenoon,  few  attended ;  and 
'  scarcely  Christians  enough  to  say,  "  We." '  In  the  after- 
noon, many  more  attended  ;  and  he  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of 
freedom  and  tenderness  in  addressing  them.  But  after  meet- 
ing, his  heart  almost  sunk  within  him  to  see  the  people  ap- 
pearing as  if  they  had  listened  to  nothing  which  was  solemn, 
or  which  should  interest  them. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  State,  he  labored  till  near  the 
close  of  May.  In  East.  Greenwich,  some  special  religious 
interest  existed  ;  and,  in  several  points,  the  state  of  things  had 
improved  since  his  last  visit  to  the  place.  Here  he  visited 
the  jail,  and  conversed  and  prayed  with  the  prisoners,  some 
of  whom  wept.  He  also  visited  and  prayed  with  the  Indian 
school  at  Charlestown.  During  his  mission  here,  he  attended 
the  State  Fast  in  Massachusetts,  at  Rehoboth,  April  8th; 
and  that  of  Connecticut,  at  Stonington,  on  the  16th.  He 
also  preached  before  R.  I.  Missionary  Society,  at  Newport, 
on  the  4th  of  May.  He  spoke  from  Num.  14:  21,  "But  as 
truly  as  I  live,  all  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  glory  of 
the  Lord'."  This  was  a  sudden  effort,  being  called  upon  in 
consequence  of  the  failure  of  the  appointed  preachers.  But 
his  auditory  appear  to  have  been  interested ;  and  a  larger 
collection  than  usual  was  taken  up.  At  Killingly,  Conn.,  he 
attended  a  meeting  of  the  AYindham  Ministerial  Association. 
Having  preached  in  one  parish  the  evening  before,  where 
some  special  interest  existed,  he  was  requested  to  preach  in 
the  other,  where  the  meeting  was  held.  Here  he  experienced 
what  he  regarded  as  a  Divine  rebuke.  '  Felt  well,  (he  says,) 


202  MEMOIR     OF  [1813. 

in  the  first  prayer.  But  after  introducing  my  subject,  God 
withdrew.  Was  not  much  troubled  for  words  or  illustrations  ; 
but  a  solemn,  tender  sense  of  things  was  wanting.'  This 
pained  him  much  afterward ;  and  on  reflection,  he  thought  he 
discovered  the  cause  to  be,  an  undue  desire  to  appear  well 
before  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  But  he  submitted  to  the 
rebuke,  and  said,  '.O  Lord,  thou  art  righteous  ;'  and  prayed 
for  grace  to  sanctify  such  trials,  and  make  him  more  watchful 
against  his  spiritual  foes.  Pride  he  regarded  as  one  of  his 
worst  enemies;  and  at  another  time,  having  had  special  assist- 
ance on  the  Sabbath,  and  being  ashamed  for  a  comparatively 
lifeless  performance  on  Monday  evening,  he  thus  laments  it 
on  the  following  morning  :  '  Up  pretty  early ;  got  some  relief 
in  prayer.  My  proud  heart.  I  find,  causes  almost  all  my 
trouble.  When  God  graciously  assists  me,  I  am  apt  to 
become  self-conlident  ;  and  then  when  he  withholds  for  my 
humbling,  my  proud  heart  finds  fault  that  I  am  not  honored 
before  the  people ! '  And  then  his  honest  exposure  of  the 
sins  of  his  heart  appears  in  the  subjoined  expression  of  fear 
that  this  gave  him  more  pain  than  the  thought  of  having  dis- 
pleased God.  And  he  cries  out,  '  Oh,  that  I  might  be  puri- 
fied !  When  shall  it  once  be  ? '  At  times,  however,  he 
derived  comfort  from  the  very  feelings  consequent  upon  the 
fact  of  Divine  withdrawment ;  for  when,  on  another  occasion, 
he  was  mourning  over  a  somewhat  barren  Sabbath  which  he 
had  passed,  he  adds,  '  I  think  I  must  regard  it  as  an  evidence 
of  the  genuineness  of  my  piety,  that  I  am  contented  with  no 
duty,  unless  God  is  in  it.'  And  to  have  God  in  a  duty,  was 
to  have  a  solemn,  interested  state  of  feeling. 

An  instance  of  the  effects  of  intemperance  which  he  gives, 
furnishes  an  illustration  of  the  destructive  nature  of  that  vice, 
too  appalling  and  admonitory  to  be  omitted.  The  facts  seem 
almost  too  dreadful  to  be  believed  ;  and  yet  he  visited,  con- 
versed and  prayed  with  the  family,  —  and  has  given  us  the 
name.  The  widowed  mother  he  hoped  was  pious.  A  son, — 


1813.]  JOTHA.M    SEWALL.  203 

then  between  forty  and  fifty,  —  twelve  years  before,  in  a  fit 
of  insanity  occasioned  by  drinking,  dug  out  both  his  eyes  with 
a  nail !  He  vindicated  himself  (as  Mr.  S.  was  told),  by  say- 
ing that  his  eyes  offended  him ;  and  he  obeyed  the  command, 
which  required  him  to  pluck  them  out !  He  had  a  wife  and 
children;  but  his  wife  obtained  divorce,  and  was  "married  to 
another  man."  He  lived  with  his  aged  mother,  and  made 
baskets.  A  younger  son,  a  few  years  previous  to  the  account, 
in  a  similar  fit  from  the  same  cause,  murdered  his  father. 
Living  in  a  camp  by  himself,  his  father  called  to  see  him  on 
business,  when  he  dashed  out  his  brains  with  a  stone-hammer. 
He  then  drew  him  to  the  fire,  which  had  nearly  consumed  his 
head,  when  the  act  was  discovered.  He  was  imprisoned  in 
irons,  but  on  the  plea  of  insanity  was  not  sentenced.  Another 
son,  having  a  wife  and  family,  and  occupying  a  part  of  his 
mother's  house,  by  the  same  vice  had  reduced  himself  to 
poverty.  That  widow's  cup,  surely,  had  often  been  filled  with 
agonizing  ingredients. 

Some  things  which  have  been  noticed  respecting  the  state 
of  morals  and  religion  in  Rhode  Island  must  be  painful  to  the 
reader.  He  has  however  observed  that  some  improvement 
is  spoken  of  as  having  taken  place  between  the  visits  of  our 
missionary ;  and  it  is  cheering  to  know  that  that  improvement 
has  since  progressed.  A  Congregational  clergyman,  who  has 
labored  in  that  State  for  sixteen  years,  and  is  well  acquainted 
in  some  of  the  other  New  England  States,  after  speaking  of 
the  comparative  superiority  of  Rhode  Island  in  wealth  and 
manufacturing  interests,  and  of  their  common-school  system 
as  one  of  the  most  perfect  and  efficient  in  the  country,  and 
of  the  excellency  of  their  higher  institutions  of  learning, 
adds  :  '  As  it  regards  religion  and  churches,  we  are  prepared, 
by  long  and  intimate  acquaintance,  to  bear  equally  honorable 
testimony.  Church  organizations,  and  church  edifices  are 
abundant.  When  that  devoted  man,  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall, 
preached  in  South  Kingston,  there  was  probably  not  more 


204:  MEMOIR    OP   JOTHAM     SEWALL.          [1813. 

than  one  or  two  houses  of  worship  in  the  town.  Now  there  are 
ten.  The  style  of  church-architecture  is  generally  neat,  and 
in  many  instances,  of  great  costliness.'  He  admits,  that  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State,  particularly,  there  has  been 
much  Sabbath  desecration,  as  the  result,  in  part,  of  a  difference 
in  opinion  and  practice  respecting  the  observance  of  the  first 
or  seventh  day  of  the  week  as  holy  time ;  but  he  gives  it  as 
his  decided  opinion  that '  there  is  as  much  intelligence,  refine- 
ment, and  piety  in  that  most  beautiful  of  all  the  eastern 
States,  as  in  the  most  favored  portions  of  the  country  of  equal 
extent  and  population.'  In  the  cause  of  temperance,  too,  he 
regards  that  State  as  among  the  foremost  in  the  Union. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DEATH  OF  A  SON. — VARIOUS  LABORS. —  LETTER  OP  DR.  AN- 
DERSON.— CORRESPONDENCE. —  MISSION  IN  NEW  HAMP- 
SHIRE.    REVIVAL  IN  CHESTERVILLE.  INSTALLED 

THERE. 

CLOSING  his  mission  in  Rhode  Island,  he  attended  the  usual 
anniversaries  in  Boston.  The  abstract  of  his  journal,  which 
states  that  he  preached  three  hundred  and  sixty-four  times, 
and  visited  four  hundred  and  fifty-nine  families,  etc., '  since 
last  Election,'  implies  that  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Missionary  Society  during  the  year. 

His  appointment,  to  labor  under  the  patronage  of  the  So- 
ciety, was  renewed,  and  extended  through  the  ensuing  mis- 
sionary year.  The  field  assigned  him  was  Kennebeck  and 
Somerset  counties,  in  Maine  ;  *  and  these  then  included  the 
inhabited  part  of  what  is  now  the  county  of  Franklin.  And 
it  is  probable  the  bestowment  of  some  labor  in  destitute  towns 
bordering  on  these  counties  was  not  regarded  as  a  breach  of 
his  instructions.  The  labor  assigned  him  he  entered  on  and 
performed  with  his  customary  energy,  diligence  and  zeal ;  and 
it  is  only  needful  to  notice  whatever  of  peculiar  interest 
occurred. 

In  North  Augusta,  and  Norridgewock,  some  special  atten- 
tion to  religion  existed.  As  the  fruits  of  the  revival  in  Dix- 
field,  already  mentioned,  he  admitted  five  more  to  the 
fellowship  of  that  church.  A  similar  work  in  the  vicinity  of 
Bingham,  added  considerably  to  the  previous  amount  of  piety 
there  ;  and  he  received  eleven  members  to  the  church. 

*  See  Panop.  and  Miss.  Mag.,  July,  1814, 
18 


206  MEMOIR    OF  [1813. 

In  the  autumn  of  1813,  he  was  called  to  visit  Guildhall 
and  Windsor,  in  Vermont,  on  an  important  ecclesiastical 
council  to  examine  and  adjust  some  things  pertaining  to  •  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry  who  expected  to  become  settled  in 
Maine.  And  on  this  journey,  we  see  the  disposition  mani- 
fested, which  we  have  all  along  observed,  of  endeavoring  to 
be  about  his  Master's  business.  Religious  conversation  he 
carried  everywhere,  endeavoring  to  instruct  and  benefit  all 
into  whose  society  he  fell.  Lectures  were  preached  wherever 
the  opportunity  could  be  found.  He  visited  and  prayed  with 
a  number  of  sick  persons ;  and,  while  at  Windsor,  preached 
in  the  State  Prison. 

During  this  journey,  he  seems  to  have  somewhat  narrowly 
escaped  serious  injury.  In  crossing  a  bridge,  his  horse  brfcke 
through  a  plank,  and  threw  him  over  her  head  ;  but  a  kind 
Providence  preserved  him  from  material  harm.  It  not  unfre- 
quently  occurs,  that  those  who  are  almost  constantly  upon  the 
road,  and  those  especially  who  pass,  as  he  did,  the  most  diffi- 
cult and  rough  ways  between  new  settlements,  meet  with  in- 
cidents both  serious  and  humorous.  Some  time  before  this, 
in  travelling  one  of  these  new  roads  in  Maine,  his  horse, 
catching  a  foot  between  two  roots  in  a  slough,  floundered,  and 
precipitated  him  into  the  same  mire  with  herself.  He  re- 
ceived no  injury,  however, —  except  an  unpleasant  accumu- 
lation, from  which  it  required  some  labor  to  be  freed. 

In  his  different  journeys,  as  in  the  one  he  unexpectedly  took 
into  Vermont,  it  sometimes  occurred  that  duty  required  him 
to  be  on  the  road  at  the  time  of  the  stipulated  monthly  fast, 
which  he  still  observed.  And  most  would  of  course  suppose, 
that  at  such  times  he  neglected  it.  But  this  would  not  have 
been  in  accordance  with  his  character.  He  loved  communion 
with  God  on  such  occasions  too  well  to  lay  it  aside.  And  he 
valued  the  assistance  of  a  Christian  brother's  prayers  too 
highly  to  leave  him  alone  at  the  throne  of  grace.  When 
obliged  to  journey  on  those  days,  he  would  abstain  from  food, 


]813.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALT. .  207 

either  partially  or  entirely,  and  meditate  on  appropriate  sub- 
jects,—  and  pause,  some  four  or  five  times,  and  retire  to  a  con- 
venient seclusion  for  prayer.  And  if  a  Christian  brother  was 
travelling  with  him,  as  in  the  journey  above  alluded  to,  in- 
stead of  neglecting  it  on  that  account,  he  would  enlist  him  in 
its  observance. 

No  neglect  of  duty  sat  easy  on  his  conscience.  It  argued, 
at  least,  a  carelessness,  or  sluggishness  or  forgetfulness,  which 
grieved  him.  The  reader  will  recollect  that,  near  the  com- 
mencement of  the  volume,  he  stated  that,  according  to  his  best 
recollection,  he  had  not  neglected  secret  prayer,  for  a  day, 
from  the  time  of  beginning  the  practice  to  that  of  penning 
the  remark,  —  a  period  of  about  seventy-seven  years.  But 
though  he  neglected  it  not  for  a  day,  we  have  found  four  in- 
stances, reckoning  to  the  present  time,  in  which  he  omitted  it, 
or  feared  that  he  had,  either  morning  or  evening.  One  of 
these,  under  quite  peculiar  circumstances,  occurred  in  the 
year  we  are  now  reviewing.  An  extract  from  his  diary  ex- 
hibits the  fact,  and  shows  us  how  he  felt  about  it.  '  Awoke 
in  the  night,  and  by  reflecting  I  found  that,  through  forgetful- 
ness,  I  neglected  secret  prayer  last  evening.  I  was  filled  with 
shame.  Rose  early,  and  retired  and  besought  God's  forgiveness. 
If  my  affections  were  placed  on  God  as  they  ought  to  be,  how 
could  I  forget  to  pray  to  him  ?  I  don't  forget  to  eat,  because 
I  crave  food.  Oh,  rather  let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of 
my  mouth,  than  that  I  should  forget  God  or  Zion.' 

His  love  to  Zion  appears  in  another  record  worthy  of  no- 
tice. The  cause  of  religion  in  his  native  place,  for  many 
years,  had  greatly  declined.  In  June  he  heard  of  an  unhappy 
event  in  the  place,  which  greatly  affected  him  ;  and  he  thus 
laments  :  'Oh,  my  poor,  native  place  !  what  shall  be  done  for 
thee?  If  father  Moody  was  to  rise  from  the  dead,  what 
would  he  find  in  York  ?  Alas  !  not  such  a  state  of  things  as 
he  described  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  at  his  first  coming  there,  when 
he  told  him  he  believed  he  would  preach  to  about  two  bun- 


208  MEMOIR    OF  [1814. 

dred  new  creatures.*  How  is  the  gold  changed ;  and  the 
most  fine  gold  become  dim!  Oh,  that  God  would  restore  the 
years  that  the  canker-worm  hath  eaten.' 

In  the  former  part  of  1814,  the  typhus  fever  prevailed 
with  great  mortality  in  many  towns  on  the  Kennebeck  and 
Sandy  rivers,  and  their  vicinity.  It  assumed  a  malignant 
form ;  and  in  many  instances  accomplished  its  fatal  work  in 
a  few  days,  and  in  some,  (if  memory  serves,)  in  a  few  hours. 
It  was  a  hew  disease  in  the  region ;  and  on  account  of  the 
rapidity  and  dreadfulness  of  its  work,  it  was  sometimes  de- 
nominated '  The  Cold  Plague.'  In  some  instances,  it  swept 
through  whole  neighborhoods  and  towns,  laying  numbers  in  a 
sudden  grave,  covering  the  entire  population  with  mourning, 
filling  the  minds  of  many  with  melancholy  forebodings,  and 
seeming  to  invest  nature  itself  with  a  fearful  gloom.  At  the 
beginning  of  its  appearance,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was 
from  home,  and  experienced  an  attack.  But  by  vigorous 
appliances  and  the  blessing  of  God,  he  succeeded  in  throwing 
it  off.  This  occasioned  him  one  silent  Sabbath.  He  had 
spent  one  in  July,  1812,  occasioned  by  ill  health.  And  these 
are  the  only  Sabbaths,  since  that  which  occurred  in  Warren 
a  few  years  ago,  in  which  he  had  not  preached  once  or  more. 
He  so  far  recovered  as  to  reach  home.  In  a  few  days,  the 
disease  appeared  in"  his  own  family,  and  at  one  or  two  other 
points  near  him.  But  neither  himself  nor  the  neighborhood 
apprehended  the  fearfulness  of  the  calamity  which  hung  over 
them.  His  own  family  was  destined  to  feel  ifce  first  shock. 
A  daughter  of  thirteen  and  a  son  of  eleven  were  rather  mildly 
attacked.  Having  an  appointment  for  the  Sabbath  about 
thirty  miles  distant,  he  left  Friday  afternoon  to  fulfil  it.  The 
children  were  comfortable,  and  no  occasion  of  alarm  appeared. 
Not  long  after  he  left,  the  son  became  worse.  The  disease 
attacked  the  brain ;  and  on  Sabbath  he  was  deprived  of 

*  This  probably  refers  to  a  great  revival  under  Mr.  Mooches  minis- 
try, in  1741.     Sec  Greenleafs  Eccl.  Sketches. 


1814.]  JOT  If  AM     SEW  A  1. 1..  209 

reason,  and  thrown  into  a  state  of  dreadful  suffering.  Un- 
aware of  the  painful  events  under  his  own  roof,  taking  a 
number  of  calls  and  a  requested  lecture  to  a  bereaved  family 
on  his  way  home,  he  did  not  arrive  till  evening.  He  then 
set  his  foot  on  his  own  door-step  to  be  told  that  he  had  just 
come  in  season  to  see  his  son  die  !  The  shock  was  dreadful ; 
but  the  scene  presented  within  was  still  more  so.  There  lay 
an  object  of  a  parent's  tenderest  affections,  endeared  to  his 
heart  by  eleven  interesting  years  of  childhood,  deprived  of 
reason,  in  the  greatest  bodily  suffering,  and  actually  struggling 
with  the  king  of  terrors  !  He  could  have  no  access  to  his  mind, 
to  acquaint  himself  with  his  state,  and  had  no  evidence  that 
he  was  prepared  for  the  fearful,  decisive  event  which  was 
rapidly  approaching.  To  one  whose  view  of  eternal  things 
placed  them  as  actual  realities  before  him,  and  who  believed 
God's  threatenings  as  well  as  his  promises,  and  who  knew 
that  regenerating  grace  was  indispensable  to  the  salvation  of 
the  soul,  and  whose  sensibilities  had  been  so  awake  to  the 
final-  state  of  his  children,  this  position  of  things  was  fearful. 
Christian  friends,  indeed,  were  there,  and  had  been  aiding 
the  family,  and  were  ready  to  aid  him,  by  their  prayers  ;  and 
one  godly  neighbor,*  whose  spirit  in  less  than  a  fortnight 
afterwards,  liberated  from  the  clay  tabernacle  by  the  same 
disease,  winged  its  way  upward,  more  than  once  bent  his 
knees  in  earnest  supplication  for  the  little  sufferer.  But  all 
this  could  not  afford  the  relief  which  the  heart  of  the  agonized 
father  wanted^  He  tried  to  flee  to  his  accustomed  refuge. 
But  it  was  an^iour  of  dreadful  agitation.  Waves  of  unex- 
pected, overwhelming  trouble  were  crushing  him  ;  and  it  was 
not  easy  to  command  that  collectedness  of  mind  which  is 
favorable  to  the  exercise  of  faith.  He  repeatedly  endeavored 
to  commit  the  soul  of  his  dying  child  to  God.  '  But,  oh,  (he 
says.)  what  agony  and  struggles  I  had !  It  made  me  literally 

*  Dea.  Simon  Pierce. 


210  MEMOIR     OF  [1814. 

faint  and  sick.'  Still  the  struggle  in  the  child,  between 
physical  powers  naturally  strong,  and  the  tightening  grasp  of 
the  king  of  terrors,  went  on  ;  and  it  was  not  till  between  one 
and  two  o'clock  at  night  that  the  messenger  of  death  had 
conquered  his  subject,  and  borne  away  his  prey.  But  even 
here,  parental  feelings  were  not  tranquillized.  The  afflicted 
father  acknowledged  God's  undoubted  right  to  do  with  him 
and  his  as  he  pleased ;  and  prayed  for  submission.  He 
acknowledged  God's  right  to  order  the  circumstances  just  as 
he  had,  even  those  which  were  the  most  painful.  But  the 
torn  heart  of  parental  affection  would  sometimes  swell  with 
anguish  not  easy  to  be  assuaged.  And  if  the  intellect  saw 
and  acknowledged  God,  and  the  heart  in  some  measure,  there 
was  not  all  the  soothing  and  healing  influence  of  a  childlike 
trusting  faith  which  is  desirable.  The  occasion  required 
more  than  any  previous  emergency  had  demanded.  The 
child  thus  suddenly  torn  away  was  one  from  whom,  for  the 
sweetness  of  his  disposition  and  the  opening  promise  of  his 
intellect,  parental  expectation  might  have  anticipated  more 
than  from  any  other  of  his  children.  And  the  bereaved 
father  was  sometimes  ready  to  reflect  upon  himself,  when  he 
thought  with  what  ease,  as  he  supposed,  the  disease  might 
probably  have  been  arrested,  and  the  fatal  issue  prevented, 
by  the  vigorous  appliances  which,  chiefly  at  the  dictation  of 
his  own  judgment,  had  relieved  himself.  He  reproached 
himself  also  that  he  had  not  felt  a  still  deeper  interest  for  the 
welfare  of  his  soul,  and  done  more  to  promote  it;  and  espe- 
cially that  he  had  not  embraced  the  last  opportunity,  which 
Divine  Providence  intended  he  should  have,  and  conversed 
with  him  before  he  left  home.  It  was  an  alleviation,  indeed, 
to  remember  that  he  had  often  and  fervently  prayed  for  him, 
and  sometimes  he  hoped  with  faith ;  and  that  Christian 
friends  had  been  aided  to  plead  with  an  importunity  which 
they  believed  was  heard.  Still,  the  combined  force  of  the 
above  considerations  would  sometimes  raise  a  storm  in  the 


1814.]  JOTHAM     8EAVALL.  211 

parental  heart,  which  required  nothing  short  of  a  Divine 
voice  to  say  to  it — "  Peace  ;  be  still !  " 

God  sometimes  uses  one  affliction  to  dull  the  pain  of  another. 
And  so  it  was,  to  some  extent,  in  the  case  now  befoi*e  us.  His 
neighbors'  dwellings  furnished  no  tenants  for  the  grave,  till 
another  had  been  carried  from  under  his  own  roof.  In  kind- 
ness to  him,  however,  it  was  not  one  around  whom  the  chords 
of  his  parental  affection  twined.  He  had  taken  an  aged 
Christian  friend  into  his  family,  whose  society  and  converse- 
and  the  help  of  whose  prayers,  he  had  hoped  to  enjoy.  Be- 
fore the  eyes  of  his  child  were  closed  in  death,  that  friend  was 
attacked ;  and,  after  languishing  a  few  days,  expired.  This 
bereavement  he  felt.  And  comparing  the  previous  one  to  a 
deep  incision  from  a  sharp  knife,  he  compared  this  to  a  blow 
from  a  maul  on  the  same  spot,  by  which  the  sensibility  of  the 
parts  was  somewhat  diminised.  This  occurred  before  the 
next  Sabbath.  And  while  the  remains  of  his  friend  were 
still  within  his  walls,  a  daughter  of  about  seventeen  was 
attacked,  who  narrowly  escaped  with  her  life.  Some  of  his 
neighbors  also  were  sick,  whose  cases  required  his  pastoral 
attention.  It  is  somewhat  surprising,  that  under  such  circum- 
stances, he  could  command  sufficient  composure  to  go  forward 
with  his  ministerial  work.  But  the  Sabbath  above  alluded 
to,  he  preached  from  Ps.  77 :  19,  "  Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  and 
thy  path  in  the  great  waters,  and  thy  footsteps  are  not  known ;" 
and  from  Heb.  9  :  27,  "  It  is  appointed  unto  man  once  to  die ;" 
and,  in  the  interest  he  felt  in  addressing  God's  word  to  others, 
he  '  almost  forgot  his  own  misery.'  That  evening,  however, 
to  add  to  his  other  afflictions,  the  grand  adversary  took  occa- 
sion of  a  feeling  of  melancholy  which  spread  itself  over  his 
mind,  to  assail  him  with  fears  that  his  religion  was  vain,  and 
his  hope  would  prove  a  delusion. 

The  disease  spread  and  raged  through  the  neighborhood. 
All  business,  except  providing  for  present  necessities,  was  ex- 
changed for  the  care  of  the  sick ;  and  for  this,  scarcely  enough 


MEMOIR     OF  [1814. 

remained  in  health.  For  some  weeks,  almost  every  well  per- 
son was  obliged  to  watch  two  or  three  times  each  week.  The 
arrows  of  death  flew  thick.  From  most  houses  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, one,  and  from  some,  two  or  three,  were  borne  to  the 
resting  place  of  the  dead.  Other  towns  shared  in  the  fearful 
visitation.  Deaths  were  numerous.  And  among  the  rest, 
both  parents  of  the  lamented  missionary,  Munson,  of  New 
Sharon,  fell  before  the  destroyer  within  a  few  days  of  each 
other.  The  subject  of  this  narrative  was  called  upon  to  at- 
tend the  funeral  of  the  last.  It  was  Thursday,  March  30th, 
while  the  epidemic  was  still  at  its  height.  '  Truly  (he  says), 
it  seemed  a  deplorable  house.  Mr.  Munson  buried  last  Sab- 
bath, and  his  wife  to-day  !  Four  orphan  children  are  left  to 
mourn  their  loss ;  the  oldest  eighteen  years.  The  youngest 
was  taken  sick  to  day.'  He  preached  from  Psalm  27  :  10, 
"  When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me,  then  the  Lord 
will  take  me  up ;"  and  he  poured  out  the  desires  of  his  full 
heart,  'that  God  would  indeed  take  up  the  fatherless  and 
motherless  children,  and  make  them  his  own.' 

The  prevalence  of  the  sickness  in  his  own  immediate  vi- 
cinity furnished  him  with  abundant  employment  in  minister- 
ing to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  necessities  of  the  afflicted. 
This,  while  it  often  affectingly  reminded  him  of  his  own  pain- 
ful bereavement,  so  occupied  his  thoughts  as  measurably  to 
mitigate  the  anguish  of  his  personal  sorrows.  And  yet  it  is 
not  strange  that,  when  some  memento  of  hi.s  child  suddenly 
thrust  itself  before  him,  and  the  very  image  of  his  boy,  in 
some  remembered  act  or  attitude,  was  pictured  to  his  imagina- 
tion, there  should  Le  a  rush  of  parental  affection  to  the  riven 
heart, —  tearing  open  its  wounds  afresh,  and  causing  a  gush 
of  anguish  which  defied  all  attempts  to  suppress  it.  Nor  is 
it  strange  that,  at  such  times,  under  a  bereavement  so  pecu- 
liarly trying  in  some  of  its  features,  the  feelings  of  nature 
should  be  so  overpowering  as  to  produce  a  measure  of  irre- 
eonciliation  to  the  Divine  will.  —  and  he  should  be  ready  to 


1814.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  213 

inquire  why,  if  the  bereavement  must  come,  some  of  the  cir- 
cumstances of  it  could  not  have  been  differently  ordered? 
When  such  emotions  arose,  he  labored  hard  to  suppress  them, 
—  but  the  contest  was  sometimes  sharp.  He  oieeded  more 
grace  than  was  in  exercise  at  the  moment.  He  regarded  the 
correction,  indeed,  as  from  the  hand  of  his  heavenly  Father, 
and  intended  for  his  good.  And  hence,  immediately  upon  re- 
ceiving the  painful  chastisement,  we  find  him  saying, '  I  have 
often  prayed  of  late,  that  God  would  take  any  rod  in  hand, 
however  painful,  and  let  not  his  soul  spare  for  my  crying,  if 
thereby  I  may  be  purged  from  sin  and  made  more  holy ;'  and 
he  added  his  opinion,  that  in  this  heavy  trial  God  was  proba- 
bly answering  his  prayer.  But  these  views  were  sometimes 
obscured  ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  Spirit  made  a  sweet  appli- 
cation of  the  thought,  that  his  heavenly  Father  knew  what 
correction  he  needed,  and  when  and  how  it  must  be  adminis- 
tered, and  that  every  ingredient  must  be  put  into  the  bitter 
cup  to  make  it  produce  the  desired  effect,  that  the  difficulty 
was  effectually  relieved.  Then,  the  tempter  was  driven  from 
the  field,  and  he  left  all  in  the  hands  of  God, —  and  his  soul 
bowed  in  unreserved  submission  to  the  Divine  will. 

The  dreadful  storm  at  length  passed  over  the  place  ;  leav- 
ing many  new-made  graves  and  bleeding  hearts  ;  and  he 
made  his  accustomed  annual  visit  to  Boston.  He  reported 
forty-nine  weeks  of  missionary  labor,  in  which,  under  the  pe- 
culiar circumstances  in  which  he  had  been  placed,  he  had 
fallen  a  little  short  of  one  sermoji  a  day  for  the  whole  time. 
The  number,  however,  was  more  than  six  a  week.  Soon  after 
his  return,  he  saw  the  place  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cayford  sup- 
plied, at  Bloomfield,  by  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Fifield  Holt. 
The  union  was  consummated  on  the  15th  of  June.  On  the 
4th  of  August,  he  also  assisted  in  ordaining  Rev.  Josiah 
Feet,  at  Norridgewock.  The  reader  will  remember  the  earn- 
est desires  of  his  heart,  and  the  fervency  with  which  he  often 
prayed,  that  faithful  pastors  might  be  given  to  these  churches, 


214  MEMOIR    OF  [1814. 

to  which  he  had  so  long  acted  the  part  of  a  ''nursing  father." 
He  was  now  allowed  to  rejoice  in  the  fulfilment  of  his  desires 
and  requests. 

His  labors  during  this  missionary  year  were  principally 
bestowed  upon  the  region  immediately  around  him.  Fair- 
field  received  a  greater  share  than  any  other  one  place.  Here, 
on  the  llth  of  May,  1815,  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Messrs. 
Holt  and  Peet,  he  gathered  a  church  of  eight  members.  To 
this  church,  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  afterward,  he 
received  a  number  of  members. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1814,  by  the  amount  and  variety 
of  his  labors  and  exposures,  he  took  repeated  colds,  which, 
with  some  derangement  of  the  digestive  organs,  which  did 
not  readily  yield  to  medical  prescriptions,  rendered  him  for 
a  time  quite  ill.  He  suffered  from  a  hard  and  obstinate 
cough,  which  so  afflicted  him  that,  for  a  number  of  nights  in 
succession,  he  was  obliged  to  be  bolstered  up  in  somewhat  of 
an  erect  position  to  take  his  rest.  This  ill  turn  occasioned 
him  two  silent  Sabbaths.  As  soon  as  he  was  able,  however, 
and  even  sooner,  he  gradually  resumed  his  labors ;  and, 
through  the  kind  hand  of  his  God  upon  him,  regained  his 
health  and  strength. 

A  little  previous  to  this,  an  event  occurred  which  showed 
how  careful  he  was  to  try  to  do  good  where  many  would  have 
scarcely  thought  of  attempting  it.  In  the  war  with  England, 
which  now  existed,  Castine  had  been  taken,  and  some  depre- 
dations committed'on  the  Penobscot.  Alarm  was  felt  for  the 
contiguous  frontier;  and  the  militia  was  suddenly  called  out 
for  its  defence.  "For  a  short  time,  a  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Hallowell.  Coming  there  in  the  ordinary  discharge  of 
duty,  he  sought  out  the  places  where  the  different  companies 
were  quartered,  and  visited  and  prayed  with  them.  And  we 
see  here,  as  everywhere  else,  his  industry  and  energy,  when 
told  that  four  of  these  visits  were  made  one  morning  before 
breakfast,  and  three  the  next. 


1815.]  JOIHAM    SEW  ALL.  215 

On  the  8th  of  November,  he  was  called  to  preach  at  the 
funeral  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hall,  of  Rumford.  Appropriate- 
ness was  one  of  his  happy  peculiarities  ;  and  here,  as  a  guide 
to  his  thoughts,  he  seized  upon  the  text,  "  And  Samuel  died ; 
and  all  the  Israelites  were  gathered  together,  and  lamented 
him,  and  buried  him."  (1  Sam.  25:  1).  And  he  pays  a  just 
tribute  to  his  memory,  by  speaking  of  the  success  of  his  brief 
ministry  in  the  enlargement  and  establishment  of  the  church, 
which  he  found  in  a  feeble  and  broken  state. 

The  Congregational  church*  in  Chesterville  had  embraced 
the  Congregational  professors  in  the  neighboring  towns  of 
Farmington  and  Wilton.  The  existence  of  a  separate  organi- 
zation in  Farmington  was  now  thought  expedient ;  and  on  the 
14tb  of  December  he  was  on  an  ecclesiastical  council  which 
embodied  one,  of  twelve  members; — to  this  church,  before 
his  missionary  year  closed,  he  received  seven  more. 

Near  the  beginning  of  1815,  he  made  a  brief  visit  to  the 
region  of  the  Penobscot.  But  now,  his  labors  here  were  not 
altogether  as  necessary  as  formerly.  Bangor  and  Brewer  had 
each  received  a  faithful  pastor.  In  the  former  of  these  places, 
he  found  some  special  religious  interest.  At  Garland,  he  had 
a  very  solemn  meeting ;  many  were  affected  ;  and  he  hoped 
that  good  would  result. 

In  the  course  of  the  season,  some  special  attention  existed 
at  New  Sharon  ;  and,  on  the  llth  of  October  he  assisted  in 
bestowing  on  the  church  there,  a  pastor,  —  Rev.  Hezekiah 
Hall ;  —  but  the  connection  was  brief,  and  not  as  happy  as 
could  have  been  desired. 

His  faith  and  prayer  sometimes  reached  forward,  and 
anticipated  blessings  of  which,  at  the  time,  others  scarcely 
thought.  In  the  earlier  history  of  the  town  where  he  resided, 
he  earnestly  prayed  that  the  people  might  be  blessed  with  a 
meeting-house.  He  could  not  have  expected  it  then.  But 
be  looked  forward,  and  anticipated  the  time  when  the  popul*. 


216  MEMOIR     OF  [1815. 

tion  should  be  so  increased,  and  the  interests  of  Zion  so  much 
strengthened,  that  a  temple  for  Jehovah  should  rise  among 
them.  This  year  he  saw  incipient  measures  successfully 
adopted ;  and,  at  the  commencement  of  summer,  the  frame 
of  such  a  building  erected.  In  a  few  weeks,  it  was  covered, 
and  so  roughly  furnished  within  as  to  admit  of  being  used. 
On  the  sixteenth  of  July,  he  there  met  with  the  people  of 
God  for  worship.  In  the  forenoon,  he  preached  from  Acts  7: 
49,  "  Heaven  is  my  throne,  and  the  earth  is  my  footstool. 
What  house  will  ye  build  me,  saith  the  Lord  ? "  In  the 
afternoon,  in  anticipation  of  the  blessings  which  he  hoped 
God  would  there  dispense,  he  used  Isa.  44  :  3,  "I  will  pour 
•water  upon  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground ; 
I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon 
thine  offspring."  He  received  two  to  the  church,  baptizing 
one  of  them  ;  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper.  And,  by 
the  peculiar  providence  which  directed  that  both  these  ordi- 
nances should  be  administered  the  first  time  the  house  was 
used  for  worship,  he  was  encouraged  in  the  hope  that  God 
intended  there  to  diffuse  the  rich  blessings  of  his  grace. 

Were  Christians  always  to  seize  upon  those  moments  when 
their  hearts  are  deeply  interested  for  a  particular  object,  to 
bear  it  before  God  in  prayer,  much  would  probably  be  added 
to  the  amount  of  effectual  supplication  which  now  ascends. 
By  deferring  this  to  their  next  accustomed  season  of  devotion, 
their  fervor  often  subsides ;  and  the  object,  if  not  forgotten,  is 
presented  in  a  comparatively  heartless  manner.  In  this  respect, 
the  subject  of  these  remarks  has  left  us  an  example  worthy 
of  imitation.  The  evening  sacrifice  had  been  laid  on  the  do- 
mestic altar,  and  his  children  had  retired.  He  took  up  an 
address  delivered  before  a  society  for  assisting  pious  indigent 
young  men,  who  were  desirous  of  obtaining  an  education  for 
the  ministry.  The  writer  portrayed  the  deplorable  destitu- 
tion of  some  portions  of  the  country ;  and  before  he  had 
finished  the  perusal,  his  heart  became  So  full,  that  be  wished 


1816.]  JOTHAM    8EAVALL.  217 

1  to  spread  the  perishing  condition  of  multitudes  before  God 
in  prayer,  while  the  impression  lasted.'  The  matter  was 
proposed  to  his  wife  ;  and  they  enjoyed  a  '  truly  solemn  sea- 
son' in  fervent  supplications  that  pastors  and  missionaries 
might  be  raised  up,  and  the  destitute  furnished  with  the 
means  of  grace,  and  the  Spirit  be  poured  upon  them  from  on 
high. 

The  monthly  fast  which  originated  in  an  agreement  with  a 
Christian  brother  continued  to  be  observed,  and  grew  some- 
what into  a  social  exercise.  Others  frequently  united  with 
him  in  it.  And  these  seasons  he  highly  valued  and  enjoyed. 
They  appear  quite  generally  to  have  been  spiritual  feasts,  for 
which  he  was  willing  to  leave  almost  anything  else.  On  the 
occurrence  of  one  of  these  days  late  in  the  autumn  of  this 
year,  a  piece  of  labor  for  himself  in  his  former  occupation 
was  on  hand,  for  which  the  pleasantness  of  the  weather  was 
favorable,  and  which,  from  the  lateness  of  the  season,  it  was 
somewhat  hazardous  to  neglect.  Under  such  circumstances, 
most  would  probably  have  felt  justified  in  omitting  the  relig- 
ious observance,  if  not  required  thus  to  do.  But  he  left  the 
world  and  united  with  his  brothers  and  sisters  in  the  Lord  in 
fasting  and  prayer.  '  It  was  a  fine  day,  (he  says,)  to  have 
done  the  work ;  but  it  was  not  too  fine  to  devote  to  His  im- 
mediate service  who  made  it.'  And  he  appears  to  have 
possessed  far  more  enjoyment  in  spreading  before  God  the 
objects  for  which  the  meeting  was  held,  than  he  would  in  the 
successful  pursuit  of  any  worldly  object. 

Soon  after  this,  he  spent  one  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  with 
the  church  in  Weld,  and  another  with  the  church  in  New 
Sharon.  Of  the  latter  he  says  :  '  Toward  its  close,  the  meet- 
ing was  peculiarly  solemn.  Never,  that  I  recollect,  did  I 
possess  stronger  desires  in  prayer  for  the  cause  of  God  and 
the  salvation  of  souls  here.' 

By  a  remark  which  he  makes  at  the  close  of  1816,  that 
year  appears  to  have  been  marked  by  an  uncommon  out- 
19 


218  MEMOIR    OF  [1816. 

pouring  of  the  Spirit  upon  many  places.  Near  its  commence- 
ment, he  was  favored  with  an  increase  of  the  Spirit  of  prayer. 
Of  a  prayer-meeting  which  he  attended,  we  find  him  saying : 
'  Felt  my  desires  much  drawn  out  for  a  revival  in  this  place, 
[Chesterville].  Experienced  uncommon  enlargement  and 
solemnity  in  prayer.  It  seemed  as  if  God  would  certainly 
hear  and  answer.'  Similar  feelings  are  also  expressed  in 
relation  to  the  private  devotions  of  the  evening  and  the  sub- 
sequent morning. 

In  January  he  visited  Weld,  where  some  special  attention 
existed.  While  passing  a  forest  of  some  miles,  through  which 
the  road  lay,  he  longed  that  God  would  renew  his  commis- 
sion, and  give  him  some  success,  'notwithstanding  (to  use 
his  own  language)  my  dreadful  sinfulness.'  On  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath,  (as  he  found  by  conversing  with  a  number  who 
tarried  after  a  Monday  evening  lecture,)  one  or  two  were 
awakened  by  the  truths  he  presented.  In  March  he  visited 
the  place  again.  The  good  work  had  progressed;  and  a 
number  were  indulging  hope  of  having  passed  from  death 
unto  life.  Here,  in  a  conference  meeting,  his  soul  was  much 
drawn  out  in  prayer,  that  God  would  perform  in  the  place 
more  miracles  of  saving  mercy.  And  as  Abraham,  when  the 
promise  of  Isaac  was  last  renewed,  said :  "  Oh,  that  Ishmael 
might  live  before  thee;"  so  the  blessing  here  bestowed, 
turned  his  thoughts  to  the  place  of  his  residence,  and  he  en- 
treated that  a  visit  of  grace  might  there  be  made.  And  of 
this  he  says :  '  I  do  not  think  my  feelings  were  ever  more 
powerfully  affected,  or  my  soul  more  drawn  out  to  God  than 
at  this  time.'  And  he  adds :  -'  Oh,  to  be  kept  humble,  and 
made  thankful.'  Many  from  different  places  were  cutting 
logs  in  the  extensive  pine  forests  in  that  region.  Not  content 
to  do  what  he  could  for  others,  he  visited  these,  collected  what 
he  could  in  one  of  their  camps,  and  urged  on  their  attention 
the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel.  ^4^3 

More  or  leas,  of  religious  interest  began  to  appear  in  dif- 


181T>.]  JOT  HAM    SEW  AM..  219 

ferent  place*,  and  probably,  (judging  from  the  remark  al- 
ready noticed)  in  many  which  he  does  not  name,  as  his  obser- 
vations are  generally  confined  to  those  in  which  he  happened 
to  be.  lie  wrote  not  for  the  sake  of  composing  a  history; 
and  the  facts  of  this  kind  which  we  glean  from  his  diary  are 
thrown  in  as  incidental  remark?.  Of  an  evening  lecture  at 
Bloomfield,  where  he  spent  a  Sabbath  by  exchange,  he  speaks 
of  many  in  the  congregation,  which  was  composed  mostly  of 
youth,  as  being  in  tears.  Visiting  Bath  in  March,  after  a 
solemn  season  at  a  lecture,  he  says :  '  An  unusual  attention 
to  religion  exists  here.  It  is  supposed  that  as  many  as  forty 
have  obtained  hope,  and  as  many  more  are  under  concern.' 
In  Gorham.  also,  and  Durham,  he  subsequently  speaks  of 
special  religious  interest. 

In  Brunswick  the  spirit  began  to  descend  in  the  spring,  or 
the  early  part  of  summer.  The  church  was  now  destitute  of 
a  pastor.  Here,  and  in  the  towns  adjoining,  he  labored  nearly 
all  the  time  from  the  middle  of  August  till  the  middle  of 
December.  On  entering  this  field,  and  casting  his  eye  over 
it,  he  saw  that  much  was  required  to  be  done,  and  he  ardently 
desired  to  be  an  instrument  of  good,  but  he  felt  his  entire 
insufficiency  to  accomplish  any  thing  without  God.  And  it 
is  not  unlikely,  that,  contrasting  his  want  of  education  with 
the  fact  that  a  principal  seat  ot'  learning  was  here,  he  was 
more  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  his  unfitness  to  be  useful 
than  he  would  have  been  in  a  different  place.  It  was  owing 
to  the  strength  of  the  emotions  produced  by  these  circum- 
stances that  we  find  him,  a  few  days  after  he  came  to  the 
place,  awaking  in  the  night,  and  spending  some  time,  in  his 
bed  and  out  of  it,  pouring  out  tears  and  supplications  to  God 
in  belralt'  of  his  cziuse  there,  and  entreating  to  be  made  an 
instrument  of  good  to  souls  in  any  way  that  God  pleased, 
'  if  it  was  only  a<  Christ  used  the  ass  on  which  he  rode  into 
Jerusalem.' 

His  labors   hen-,  as  might  be  expected,  were  abundant. 


220  MEMOIR    OF  [1816. 

He  put  in  the  sickle  with  his  might,  as  one  who  saw  the  fields 
before  him  white  and  ready  for  the  harvest.  Lecturing  at 
different  points  in  the  town  and  immediate  vicinity,  visiting, 
conversing,  and  attending  conferences  and  inquiry  meetings, 
occupied  almost  his  entire  time.  In  these  labors,  he  appears 
to  have  enjoyed  much  Divine  assistance ;  and,  without  doubt, 
many  souls  were  benefited.  The  record  of  a  Sabbath  may 
be  gratifying  to  the  reader :  '  A  solemn  time  in  morning  de- 
votions. Preached  in  the  forenoon  from  Isa.  27:  13 ;  and  in 
the  afternoon  from  Matt.  13 :  58 ;  and  truly  the  seasons  were 
solemn,  especially  the  latter.  Know  not  that  I  ever  felt  more 
sensibly  for  immortal  souls.  Preached  in  the  evening  from 
Luke  4 :  42.  ["  And  they  came  unto  him.  and  stayed  him, 
that  he  should  not  depart  from  them ; "]  and  that  also  was  a 
solemn  season.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not 
all  his  benefits."  Oh,  that  good  may  be  done.  But  I  leave 
it  with  God.' 

Special  religious  interest  began  to  appear  in  the  College ; 
and,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  he  unexpectedly  received 
a  written  request  signed  by  nearly  thirty  of  the  students,  to 
preach  to  them  the  next  Saturday  evening.  This  he  did,  and 
'  felt  for  them  exceedingly.'  After  the  lecture,  a  few  tarried, 
with  whom  he  conversed,  and  speaks  of  two  of  them  as 
deeply  anxious.  After  this,  he  held  occasional  meetings  with 
the  students,  sometimes  preaching  or  expounding,  and  some- 
times conducting  meetings  for  prayer.  A  few7,  he  visited, 
conversed  and  prayed  with,  in  their  rooms.  A  letter  from 
Dr.  Anderson,  of  Boston,  to  the  writer,  happily  illustrates 
the  nature  of  his  influence  upon  the  students  at  this  time. 
The  Dr.  says : 

"MissioxAKY  HOUSE,  BOSTON,) 
June  2,  1H52.  j 

"  My  recollections  of  your  honored  father  extend  back  to 
my  childhood.  But  my  personal  relations  to  him  commenced 
in  the  revival  of  religion,  that  was  so  great  a  blessing  to  Bow- 


1816.]  J  O  T  n  A  M     S  K  W  A  L  f. .  221 

doin  College  in  the  year  1816.  It  was  then  that  myself  and 
a  brother  next  younger  than  myself  hoped  we  were  brought 
into  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  I  am  not  able  to1  speak  of  his 
intercourse  with  others  individually  at  that  time,  but  with  me 
it  was  considerable,  and  of  a  nature  to  awaken  love  and  grat- 
itude which  -time  can  never  abate.  The  revival  commenced 
near  the  close  of  the  summer  term,  but  I  doubt  if  any  saving 
results  appeared  before  commencement ;  and  our  excellent 
President,  Dr.  Appleton.  and  your  father,  naturally  had  strong 
fears  as  to  the  result  of  the  vacation.  These  fears  were 
shared  by  many,  and  special  prayer  for  the  college  was  offered 
in  Brunswick  and  the  adjacent  towns.  The  prayers  were 
answered.  The  college  reassembled  in  deeper  solemnity 
than  when  it  separated.  I  well  remember  my  first  interview 
with  your  father,  after  my  return.  We  met  in  one  of  the 
favorite  walks  in  the  pine  grove,  and  his  first  question  showed 
that  the  drill  of  his  solicitude,  was  for  the  safety  of  the  soul. 

Not  having  had  a  liberal  education,  your  good  father  fre- 
quently confessed  a  diffidence,  an  embarrassment,  when  ad- 
dressing the  students  at  their  private  meetings,  which  we  all 
felt  was  uncalled  for.  We  listened  to  him  with  a  deference 
bordering  on  reverence ;  and  I  do  not  recollect  ever  to  have 
heard  a  critic-ism  on  his  preaching.  He  was,  indeed,  educated 
and  learned,  a  very  satisfactory  teacher  and  guide,  in  matters 
relating  to  the  soul  and  its  eternal  interests.  After  the  lapse 
of  thirty-six  years,  I  wcall  the  subjects  of  but  two  of  his  dis- 
courses. One  was  from  Zech.  2:4;  "Run,  speak  to  this 
young  man," —  a  sermon  for  the  students ;  and  the  other  from 
Ex.  28 :  34  ;  "  A  golden  bell  and  a  pomegranate."  The  sen- 
timent deduced  from  this  latter  text  was  as  well  fitted  to  ar- 
rest attention,  as  the  text  itself.  It  was,  that  Christians 
should  have  as  much  fruit,  as  sound. 

Witli  what  delight  do  I  look  back  upon  the  labors  of  that 
holy  man,  in  connection  with  those  of  our  admirable  Presi- 
dent, in  that  most  important  revival,  lit  the  close  of  which 
more  than  half  of  my  class  and  one  third  of  the  college  stu- 
dents were  hopefully  pious  !  He  was  then  in  the  height  of 
his  eminently  consecrated  powers ;  and  in  prayer,  he  seemed 
to  have  a  rare  nearness  of  access  to  the  mercy  seat.  His 
intercessions  were  often  exceedingly  touching,  and  his  ap- 
peals to  the  conscience  and  heart  were  overpowering.  The 
angelic  Payson,  whom  I  repeatedly  heard  preach  in  those 
days,  had  a  more  brilliant  fancy  and  a  loftier  flight  of  the 
19* 


222  MEMO  IK     OF  [1816. 

imagination,  but  he  had  not  such  mastery  of  the  conscience, 
as  your  father  seemed  then  to  have. 

Occasionally,  but  less  frequently  than  I  desired,  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  your  father  as  a  guest,  even  down  to  a  late  period 
of  his  earthly  sojourn.  He  greatly  interested  all  the  mem- 
bers of  my  family ;  nor  will  they  soon  forget  his  venerable 
form,  his  large  prophet's  staff,  and  his  fervent  prayers  and 
hallowed  conversation.  We  shall  not  soon  see  his  like  again ; 
but  it  will  surely  add  to  the  blessings  of  the  social  state  in 
heaven,  that  we  shall  again  meet  him  there." 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  recover  much  of  his  cor- 
respondence. The  letters  which  follow  show  his  faithfulness 
with  anxious  persons,  and  with  those  who  begin  to  hope.  A 
few  specimens,  however,  are  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  sample 
of  what  he  would  say  to  those  whose  circumstances  he  might 
regard  as  different.  A  shower  of  mercy  at  this  time  appears 
to  have  been  descending  on  the  church  and  society  at  Kenne- 
bunk ;  and  he  had. heard  that  two  of  the  daughters  of  his 
brother  Daniel  had  recently  indulged  hope,  and  that  another 
was  anxious.  To  the  latter,  he  writes,;  — 

'  The  information  received  from  you  has  brought  to  my 
mind  that  text,  "  Without  hope  and  ivithout  God  in  the  world  ;" 
which  is  the  case  with  all  unregenerate  persons.  Though  all 
have  a  hope  of  some  kind,  none  have  that  hope  which  maketh 
not  ashamed,  until  they  are  renewed  in  the  temper  of  their 
minds,  —  because  the  love  of  God  is  not  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  "  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against 
God ;  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can 
be."  A  discovery  of  this  truth  is  very  important.  If  one 
does  not  learn  that  his  heart  is  "  desperately  wicked  —  de- 
ceitful above  all  things,"  there  can  be  no  just  appreciation  of 
Christ.  One  may  have  pretty  clear  speculative  views  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  perhaps  even  love  them,  —  as 
the  demonstration  of  a  mathematical  theorem  is  loved, — with- 


1816.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  223* 

out  feeling  interested  in  them.  But  when  one  realizes  that 
he  is  totally  depraved ;  and  God's  law  condemns  for  the  least 
failure,  even  a  sin  of  thought ;  and  that  there  is  no  remedy 
but  in  Christ,  —  and  he  has  no  heart  to  embrace  him  as  the 
end  of  the  law,  and  that  God  only  can  make  the  heart  wil- 
ling, and  that  he  can  do  nothing  to  lay  God  under  the  least 
obligation  to  change  his  heart,  what  dreadful  enmity  arises 
against  God  !  what  torture  of  mind  !  what  anguish  !  If  this 
is  your  condition,  I  pity  you.  I  know  what  it  is  by  painful 
experience.  How  true  was  Young,  when  he  said  :  — 

1  The  keen  vibrations  of  bright  truth  in  hell ! ' 

But  without  such  bitter  experience,  one  would  not  heartily 
believe  he  was  so  bad ;  and  so  would  not  feel  his  need  of  Christ. 

'Again;  when  the  heart  is  filled  with  unreserved  submission 
to  the  sovereignty  of  God ;  when  Christ  appears  lovely,  and 
the  consistency  of  the  way  of  pardon  through  his  merits  is 
brought  out  to  the  view,  and  the  fulness  of  that  pardon  is  real- 
ized ;  then  one  believes  with  the  heart,ai\d  the  truths  which  once 
excited  enmity  appear  consistent  and  pleasing.  The  way  of 
salvation  then  appears  glorious,  and  one  seems  to  be  in  a  new 
world.  The  Bible  appears  new,  and  a  love  is  exercised  to- 
ward the  children  of  God  which  was^  never  felt  before.  Oh, 
that  God,  who  is  infinite  in  mercy,  would  appear  for  you,  slay 
the  enmity  of  your  heart,  and  take  away  the  heart  of  stone ; 
and  give  a  heart  of  flesh,  that  you  may  rejoice  with  your  sia- 
ters,  and  other  Christians,  and  that  one  may  not  be  taken  and 
another  left.' 

This  letter  was  calculated  to  inspire  the  feeling  that  she 
was  at  the  mercy  of  Him  whom  she  had  offended ;  and  what 
influence  it  had  in  producing  the  happy  result,  we  know  not. 
But  a  short  time  after,  she  appeared  to  have  written  him  in  a 
very  happy  state  of  mind  ;  and  he  replied  in  a  strain  calcu- 
lated to  produce  humility,  and  excite  gratitude  and  watch- 
fulness. 


224  MEMOIR     OF  [1816. 

'  You  say,  "  You  may  be  surprised  to  hear  me  express  so 
much  happiness^  without  doubts  and  fears,"  etc.  True  ;  but 
it  was  an  agreeable  surprise.  "  Will  God  indeed  dwell  on 
the  earth  ?  Behold,  the  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  thee,"  said  the  wisest  of  men,  at  the  dedication 
of  the  Temple.  What  then  shall  poor  dust  and  ashes  say, 
when  the  High  and  Lofty  One,  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  con- 
descends to  make  a  triumphal  entry  into  a  broken  heart? 
Can  infinite  purity  dwell  with  unspeakable  impurity  ?  Will 
he  who  fills  immensity  take  up  his  abode  in  a  humble  heart  ? 
Will  he  say,  "  Here  will  I  dwell ;  this  shall  be  my  rest  for- 
ever ?  "  "  For,  (saith  Paul  to  the  Corinthians,)  ye  are  the 
temple  of  the  living  God  ;  as  God  hath  said,  I  will  dwell  in 
them  and  walk  ii\  them ;  and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they 
shall  be  my  people."  How  careful  then  should  Christians  be 
not  to  grieve  away  the  indwelling  Majesty  !  "  Christ  in  you 
the  hope  of  glory."  "  Know  ye  not  that  Christ  Jesus  is  in 
you ?"  <  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  that  you  present  your 
body  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God,  which  is  your 
reasonable  service.  And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world ; 
but  be  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  you 
may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and  peifect  will 
of  God ;  and  think  not  more  highly  of  yourself  than  you 
ought  to  think ;  but  think  soberly,  according  as  God  hath 
dealt  to  you  the  measure  of  faith.'  You  say,  '  I  don't  expect 
to  feel  so  happy  always.'  You  doubtless  recollect  what  Dr. 
Watts  says :  — 

'  When  my  forgetful  soul  renews 

The  savor  of  thy  grace, 
My  heart  presumes  I  cannot  lose 

The  relish  all  my  days ; 
But  e're  one  fleeting  hour  is  past, 

The  flattering  world  employs 
Some  sensual  bait  to  seize  my  taste, 

And  to  pollute  my  joys,'  etc. 

'  That  God  may  prepare  you  for  all  the  trials  which  await 


1816.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  225 

you,  and  support  you  under  them ;  arm  you  against  all  the 
wiles  of  the  devil,  and  an  ensnaring  world,  and  an  unbelieving 
heart ;  and  give  you  at  last  the  complete  victory,  through  the 
Great  Captain  of  your  salvation,  is  the  prayer  of  your  affec- 
tionate uncle.' 

Some  correspondence  appears  to  have  passed  between  him 
and  the  two  who  had  recently  indulged  hope ;  and  to  one  of 
them  he  writes  :  — 

1  You  express  the  fear  that  you  shall  not  be  able  to  give 
me  satisfaction  in  relating  your  religious  exercises ;  and  if 
you  should  not,  it  will  not  be  of  so  much  consequence  as  to 
have  the  reality  of  religion  at  heart.  A  person  may  feel 
more  than  he  can  express  ;  and  one  may  be  much  mortified 
because  he  don't  tell  as  good  a  story  as  he  could  wish.  Sim- 
plicity of  expression,  without  any  proud  anxiety  respecting 
the  result  of  one's  relation  in  the  view  of  others,  is  the  best. 
You  have,  however,  related  the  substance  of  what  I  wished. 
And  though  it  would  be  desirable,  at  least  comfortable,  to 
specify  the  time  and  circumstances  of  one's  conversion,  this  is 
not  so  material  as  to  be  really  in  a  renewed  state.  I  am  ac- 
quainted with  a  person,  who  is  now  a  preacher,  who  cannot 
come  nearer  to  the  time  of  his  conversion  than  to  say,  that 
within  two  or  three  years  an  alteration  took  place  in  his  mind. 
The  fact  is,  he  had  strong  feelings  at  times,  —  and  I  think 
right  feelings,  respecting  his  own  sinfulness,  the  holiness  of 
God,  etc. ;  and  when  they  subsided,  he  concluded  that  persons 
under  convictions,  had  such  exercises  ;  and  so,  of  course, 
never  supposed  them  to  be  evidences  of  regeneration.  But 
after  a  number  of  years,  conversing  frequently  with  expe- 
rienced Christians,  and  examining  the  Bible,  and  getting 
better  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  gracious  exercises,  he 
concluded  he  had  been  renewed;  but  on  looking  back,  he 
could  not  tell  the  time  when  the  first  right  exercise  took  place. 
I  know  of  no  person,  within  the  circle  of  my  acquaintance, 
with  whom  I  have  had  more  sweet  fellowship  than  with  him. 


MEM  OIK     OF  [1&16. 

Again  ;  I  have  known  some  instances  of  persons  giving  a 
minute  detail  of  the  circumstances  of  their  conversion,  and 
relating  the  very  things  that  I  should  deem  needful,  and  pos- 
sessing great  assurance,  who  yet  turned  out  miserably. 
Whether  a  person  is  able  to  relate  particulars  or  not,  there 
is  great  room  for  self-deception,  as  well  as  for  deceiving 
others.  It  is  well  to  feel,  in  view  of  this  truth,  as  David  did, 
when  he  said,  "  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try 
me,  and  know  my  thoughts  ;  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked 
way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting." 

If  persons  feel  their  hearts  to  be  as  bad  as  the  word  of 
God  declares  them  to  be,  and  are  penitent  under  the  dis- 
covery ;  if  they  see  God  to  be  a  sovereign  God,  and  are 
pleased  with  being  in  his  hands  as  such ;  if  the  law  of  God 
is  heartily  approved  of  as  holy,  just,  and  good  ;  if  Christ  ap- 
pears precious  as  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  them 
that  believe, —  I  must  conclude  that  such  have  been  renewed. 
For  it  is  certainly  true,  that  by  nature  we  do  not  realize  these 
things.  While  persons  are  going  on  in  sin,  they  do  not  feel 
troubled  with  the  exceeding  deceitfulness  and  sinfulness  of 
their  hearts.  Whatever  they  do,  they  are  ready  to  think  that 
they  don't  mean  any  hurt.  But  when  the  heart  is  changed, 
it  then  appears  the  worst  part  of  the  man.' 

It  may  appear  to  some  a  solecism,  that  a  renewed  heart 
should  appear  worse  than  one  unrenewed.  But  W!I»MI  sin  is 
rendered  hateful,  it  is  seen  in  ten  thousand  tilings  where  it 
was  not  previously  suspected.  One's  thoughts,  also,  are  then 
turned  inward,  with  rigid  self-scrutiny;  and  the  fountain  of 
iniquity  there,  is  seen  and  felt  as  not  before. 

To  the  other  he  wrote  :  '  You  fear,  it  seems,  that  I  have 
formed  too  favorable  an  opinion  of  you.  It  may  be  so ;  but 
it  will  not  harm  you,  unless  it  makes  you  think  too  favorably 
of  yourself.  The  destruction  of  too  many  persons  with  re- 
spect to  religion  is,  that  they  are  too  good  to  be  Christians, 
i.  e.,  they  think  so  favorably  of  themselves  as  to  conclude. 


1816.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  227 

that  if  they  have  not  been  altogether  what  they  should  be, 
they  are  not  so  bad  as  not  to  pass  very  well  for  good  persons, 
with  a  little  mending  !  But  suppose  a  young  wolf  should  be 
tamed  and  tutored  ever  so  much,  would  all  this  make  it  a 
lamb  ?  No ;  the  nature  must  be  changed  to  effect  such  a 
radical  alteration.  Suppose  a  bramble  bush  should  be  pruned 
and  manured  for  the  space  of  three  years  thrice  told  ;  would 
such  efforts  make  a  fig-tree  of  it  ?  We  know  it  would  not. 
While  persons  fancy  that  they  are  not  so  bad  as  to  need  a 
radical  change  in  the  temper  of  their  hearts,  they  will  not 
apply  to  Christ  as  poor,  helpless  beggars,  who  must  have  all 
done  for  them  and  in  them,  or  perish.  They  can  have  no 
feeling  sense  of  the  justice  of  God  in  their  condemnation,  and 
so  can't  be  beat  off  from  the  idea  of  doing  something  to  in- 
gratiate themselves  into  the  favor  of  God ;  and.  of  course, 
they  will  not  depend  wholly  upon  Christ  for  justification. 
And  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  them  to  be  saved  in  such  a 
state  of  mind ;  for  they  do  not  heartily  believe ;  and  Truth 
itself  has  said,  "He  that  believeth  not,  shall  be  damned." 
You  did  not  give  me  a  particular  statement  of  your  religious 
exercises,  so  that  I  might  determine  for  myself  whether  I 
have  judged  too  favorably  of  you  or  not.  Self-deception  in 
matters  of  religion,  to  be  sure,  is  a  dreadful  thing ;  and  as 
the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked, 
one  can  't  be  too  close  in  self-examination,  or  too  fervent  in 
prayer  to  God  to  help  in  such  a  difficult  work.  Sin  blinds 
persons  respecting  what  ought,  or  ought  not,  to  be  considered 
evidences  of  grace.  Let  me  ask,  Have  you  seen  yourself 
one  of  the  greatest  of  sinners  ?  Does  your  heart  appear  worse 
than  your  life  ?  Does  a  sense  of  your  vileness  in  the  sight 
of  God,  constitute  your  greatest  burden  ?  Do  you  abhor 
yourself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes  ?  If  you  could  have 
the  offer  of  living  in  sin  now,  and  going  to  heaven  at  last, 
would  you  be  glad  to  accept  it  ?  Are  you  reconciled  to  the 
doctrine  of  Divine  sovereignty  ?  And  have  you  felt  willing 


228  ME  MO  IK     OK  '[1817. 

to  surrender  yourself  into  God's  hands,  and  leave  it  with  him 
to  determine  your  future  destiny  ?  Has  it  ever  seemed  so 
just  for  God  to  enter  into  judgment,  and  cast  you  away,  that 
you  have  been  ready  to  say  you  must  justify  him  if  he  con- 
demns you  forever  ?  Did  you  ever  feel  glad  that  you  cannot 
deceive  God,  and  that  he  knows  the  worst  of  your  heart  ? 
On  what  account  can  a  holy  God  justify  so  vile  a  sinner? 
How  do  you  feel  when  you  pray  ?  Did  you  ever  feel  as  if 
your  prayers  were  nothing  but  mockery,  and  were  abomina- 
ble in  the  sight  of  God  ?  Do  you  love  Christians  because 
they  bear  the  image  of  God  ?  Do  you  ever  long  that  others 
may  become  Christians,  who  are  now  in  the  gall  of  bitterness? 
Some  of  these  questions  I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  answer 
when  convenient.  If  you  have  not  experienced  a  saving 
change,  I  pray  God  that  you  may.  It  will  be  but  a  little 
while  before  we  shall  all  be  in  eternity ;  and  it  will  be  then 
determined  who  are  real  Christians,  and  who  are  self-deceivers. 
Then  every  one  must  give  account  of  himself  to  God  ;  must 
pass  examination  before  him  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of 
fire,  and  who  will  search  the  inmost  recesses  of  all  hearts. 
That  you  may  be  able  to  stand  in  that  great  and  awful  day, 
is  the  prayer  of  your  affectionate  uncle.' 

Thus  faithfully  did  he  probe  the  heart  of  one  who  feared 
that  he  had  too  good  an  opinion  of  her.  Thus  anxious  was 
he  that  she  should  not  mistake  on  the  great  question  of  being, 
or  not  being,  a  Christian.  And  doubtless  after  receiving  the 
above,  she  thought  very  little  of  what  might  be  his  judgment 
of  her  case. 

Leaving  Brunswick  about  the  middle  of  December,  he  re- 
turned and  spent  there  two  Sabbaths  in  January,  and  four 
more  in  May  and  June.  In  summing  up  an  account  of  his 
labors  here,  he  says:  'The  religious  attention  in  Brunswick 
the  year  past  has  been  very  great.  More  than  two  hundred 
persons  have  been  added  to  the  several  churches  of  different 
orders.' 


1817.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  229 

The  cause  of  evangelical  piety  in  the  place  is  greatly  in- 
debted, under  God,  to  his  labors  at  this  time.  Congregation- 
alism especially  was  previously  low.  The  church  a  few  years 
before  embraced  only  seventeen  members.  (See  Green. 
Eccl.  Sketches.)  And  it  contained  so  much  of  the  element, 
which,  when  the  lines  were  drawn,  developed  itself  as  Unita- 
rianism,  that,  but  for  the  addition  to  its  piety  and  numbers 
now  received,  it  would  probably  have  gone  over  to  that  be- 
lief. «  Persons  well  qualified  to  judge,  regard  him  under 
God,  as  the  means  of  saving  it  from  that  result.  Most  of 
the  number  above  specified,  joined  other  denominations :  but 
enough  were  added  to  the  Congregational  Church  to  decide 
its  subsequent  character. 

The  writer  has  not  the  means  of  determining  how  much  of 
the  missionary  years  ending  in  May,  1815  and  1816,  he 
spent  in  the  employ  of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society. 
But  in  their  Report  at  the  annual  meeting  in  May,  1816,  the 
Trustees  thus  express  themselves :  '  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall 
has  been  in  the  service  of  this  Society  the  most  of  the  time 
for  fourteen  years.  Of  his  fervent  Missionary  spirit,  his  in- 
defatigable activity,  and  his  more  than  ordinary  success, 
there  have  been  many  gratifying  proofs  exhibited  to  the  so- 
ciety at  different  times,  and  there  will  be,  as  we  devoutly 
trust,  many  joyful  witnesses  at  the  appearing  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.'  *  At  this  meeting  he  also  received  an  appointment 
for  twenty  weeks  of  the  year  ensuing. 

The  former  part  of  1817,  (excepting  the  Sabbaths  at 
Brunswick,  just  named,)  he  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
residence.  A  few  drops  from  a  shower  of  mercy  which  was 
descending  upon  Fayette,  fell  upon  the  south  part  of  Chester- 
ville,  in  consequence  of  which  a  small  addition  was  made  to 
the  Church  to  which  he  belonged.  He  also  speaks  of  a  few 
conversions  in  Wayne,  some  special  attention  in  Thomaston, 

*  Panoplist  and  Miss.  Mag.,  July.  1816. 
20 


230  'MEMOIR   or  {1817. 

and  a  revival  in  Temple.  Of  a  Sabbath  which  he  spent  in 
Mercer,  in  March,  he  says:  'Truly,  I  think  God  helped 
me  to  speak  his  truth  with  a  degree  of  clearness,  pungency, 
and  affection.  The  house  was  much  crowded ;  the  assembly 
appeared  solemn  ;  and  a  number  wept  under  the  word.' 

From  the  notices  we  give  of  the  lively  state  of  his  reli- 
gious affections  and  the  interest  he  felt  in  the  duties  of  the 
ministry,  it  would  be  wrong  to  infer  that  his  religious  life  was 
not,  more  or  less,  checkered  with  variety,  like  that  of  other 
Christians.  He  felt  that  he  bore  about  with  him  a  '  body  of 
death  ; '  and  from  outward  occurrences,  his  trials  were  some- 
times severe.  At  one  time  we  hear  him  complaining :  '  It 
seems  to  me'  lately  that  I  have  lost  a  great  part  of  my  fervor 
in  secret  prayer,  which  ought  to  be  alarming.'  This,  how- 
ever, did  not  long  continue.  At  another,  he  was  going  to- 
ward a  lecture,  '  severely  tried  in  mind '  by  some  unspecified 
cause.  Arriving  at  the  place,  he  was  pained  to  find,  that, 
through  a  mistake  in  the  time,  the  assembly  had  been  long 
waiting.  He  thus  had  no  opportunity  to  retire  and  cast  his 
burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  seek  help  for  the  occasion.  He 
was  not,  however,  deserted.  During  the  singing  he  looked 
upward  for  mercy,  and  proceeded.  And  his  record  of  the 
occasion  is :  '  God  mercifully  relieved  my  mind  and  helped 
me.  Oh,  how  good  is  God !  In  the  midst  of  corrections  he 
supports.  Oh,  that  I  may  feel  bound  to  obedience  by  all  the 
chords  of  love.' 

Not  long  after  leaving  Brunswick,  in  June,  he  returned  to 
Topsham.  Here  Divine  influence  was  descending ;  and  he 
had  the  pleasure  to  address  crowded  and  attentive  assemblies, 
and  to  direct  burdened  and  weeping  sinners  to  Christ,  and  to 
witness  the  peace  and  joy  of  newly-converted  souls.  He 
speaks  of  a  lecture  he  here  preached  from  Gen.  24:  49, 
"  And  now  if  ye  will  deal  truly  and  kindly  with  my  master, , 
tell  me ;  and  if  not,  tell  me ;  that  I  may  turn  to  the  right 
hand  or  to  the  left,"  as  being  the  most  solemn  and  interesting 


1817.]  JOTHA.M     S  KM*  ALL.  231 

season  that  he  had  enjoyed  in  that  neighborhood.  He  speaks 
also,  of  a  lecture  which  he  preached  in  Brunswick  a  few 
days  afterwards,  from  Prov.  8:  17,  "I  love  them  that  love 
me,"  etc.,  as  being  peculiarly  delightful  to  his  soul.  He  la- 
bored in  Topsham  six  weeks ;  but  he  has  not  favored  us  with 
the  number  of  hopeful  conversions  during  the  time,  nor  du- 
ring the  whole  season  of  interest  there. 

From  the  '  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge,' 
he  had  received  an  appointment  for  a  mission  of  three  months 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  Upon  the  duties  thus  as- 
signed him,  he  entered  soon  after  leaving  Topsham.  The 
route  which  he  took  was  essentially  the  same  as  that  which 
he  had  taken  thrice  before.  And  he  went  with  the  same 
desire  to  save  souls,  and  labored  with  the  same  activity  and 
diligence,  as  at  other  times.  The  strength  of  his  desire  has 
occasionally  left  its  traces.  '  Longed  to  be  instrumental  of 
good  to  souls  ; '  '  Had  a  solemn  time,  and  hope  some  impres- 
sions were  made.  If  any  good  is  done,  God  is  entitled  to  all 
the  glory.  Instead  of  asking  that  I  may  have  souls  as  the 
crown  of  my  glory,  I  have  asked  of  late  that  Christ  may  have 
^ouls,  through  my  means,  for  the  crown  of  his  fflory.  It  will 
be  glory  enough  for  me,  if  he  makes  use  of -me,  as  he  did  of 
clay  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind.' 
Of  a  Sabbath  soon  after  this  he  says,  '  In  the  first  prayer  in 
the  afternoon,  felt  uncommonly  drawn  out  to  God  for  the  con- 
version of  souls  ;  and  in  speaking  enjoyed  liberty,  solemnity, 
and  tenderness.' 

At  Machias  and  East  Machias,  an  interesting  revival  of 
religion  had  existed,  and  was  still  in  progress.  In  Machias, 
he  visited  the  jail,  and  conversed  with  a  prisoner  committed 
for  debt,  whose  confinement  had  been  hopefully  the  means 
of  his  conversion.  At  first,  he  wished  to  take  revenge  on  his 
prosecutors,  and  sought  various  ways  to  obtain  release,  or  at 
least  the  liberty  of  the  yard.  But  not  succeeding,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  Bible,  and  began  to  read  it.  The  result 


232  MEMOIR     OF  '[1817. 

was  conviction x>f  sin,  and  an  apparently  genuine  conversion ; 
and  the  man  felt  that  he  had  '  reason  to  thank  God  for  his 
imprisonment.' 

While  at  Lubec,  a  Rev.  Mr.  B.,  who  heard  him  preach, 
bestowed  considerable  commendation  on  the  sermon.  This 
occasioned  him  some  grief  and  sorrow.  The  next  morning 
he  wrote,  '  Had  a  very  mortifying  sense  of  my  folly  and 
wickedness  of  heart  in  being  so  ready  to  take  credit  to  myself 
from  Mr.  B.'s  commendation.  I  thought  of  Herod,  who  was 
struck  dead  and  eaten  of  worms  because  he  gave  not  God  the 
glory.  Tried  to  ask  God's  forgiveness  ;  and  afterward  hav- 
ing an  opportunity,  asked  Mr.  B's  also.  Oh,  what  a  miser- 
able sinner  I  am  ! '  (Mr.  B.,  we  should  think,  had  quite  as 
much  occasion  to  ask  his  forgiveness.)  A  short  lime  after 
this,  he  experienced  a  mortification  while  offering  the  last 
prayer  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  which,  with  his  reflection  upon 
it,  is  worthy  of  being  preserved.  '  By  means  of  a  roving 
thought,  a  very  unsuitable  expression  escaped  me.  This 
occasioned  mortification  and  very  painful  feelings.  I  de- 
serve such  rebukes.  How  often  have  my  thoughts  roved 
from  God  in  secret,  and  I  thought  nothing  of  it.  Oh,  that 
this  stumble  may  be  sanctified  to  make  me  more  careful  and 
watchful  in  future  ! ' 

A  circumstance  which  occurred  a  little  before  this  shows 
how  careful  he  was  to  guard  against  the  intrusion  of  improper 
thoughts  on  the  Sabbath.  On  the  morning  of  the  holy  day, 
a  letter  was  handed  to  him.  He  cast  his  eyes  upon  it,  and 
saw  that  it  was  from  his  wife.  As  the  seal  was  not  black, 
he  concluded  that  all  was  well,  and  placed  it  in  his  pocket 
for  the  morrow's  reading,  lest  his  mind  should  experience 
interruption,  '  in  the  solemn  duties  of  the  day,'  from  any 
secular  matters  it  might  contain.  These  duties  he  regarded 
as  extending  to  the  end  of  the  day  ;  and  when  the  hours  of 
the  next  began  to  come,  he  awoke,  and  lighted  a  candle,  and 
enjoyed  the  treat  of  a  communication  from  his  much-loved 


1817.]  JOTHAM     SEWALI-.  233 

home.  Some  may  call  this  being  "  righteous  overmuch  ;  " 
but  Ife  had  no  fear  of  keeping  the  Sabbath  day  too  holy,  or 
of  guarding  too  watchfully  against  mental  profanations.  Some 
may  think,  that  to  delay  the  perusal  of  a  letter  received  from 
an  absent  family,  would  occasion  more  disturbance  to  the 
thoughts,  than  to  read  it.  To  a  mind  less  inured  to  the  dis- 
cipline of  self-denial  than  his,  or  less  intimate  in  its  commu- 
nion with  God  and  heaven,  this  might  be  the  case.  But 
disqualification  for  the  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  or  disturbance 
in  them,  is  no  small  evil  in  the  estimation  of  a  mind  possess- 
ing a  right  view  of  their  holiness  and  importance.  He  doubt- 
less anticipated  that  the  letter  contained  some  details  of  busi- 
ness or  of  every  day  occurrences,  which  were  unsuitable  to 
occupy  the  mind  in  holy  time.  And  under  these  circum- 
stances, there  can  be  little  doubt  whether  the  course  he  took 
was  not  most  pleasing  to  God  and  safe  to  himself. 

On  his  return,  he  descended  Chandler's  River,  and  visited  the 
islands  and  Mispecky  Reach  and  Jonesport.  Here,  consider- 
able special  religious  interest  had  recently  existed.  During 
the  ten  days  which  he  spent  in  this  visit,  the  record  of  one  is 
here  given.  '  Visited  two  families  in  the  morning,  and  then 
retired  to  a  wood,  and  spent  the  time  from  about  nine  o'clock 
to  three  in  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer.  Not  going  from 
my  lodgings,  I  had  no  Bible  with  me ;  but  could  recollect 
several  passages  of  Scripture  which  were  appropriate  to  a 
number  of  things  which  I  had  on  my  mind.  My  whole  soul 
was  humbled  within  me  in  confessing  my  sins,  original  and 
actual,  with  their  aggravations,  and  pleading  for  pardon  only 
through  the  blood  of  Jesus.  Think  I  was  enabled  to  take 
hold  of  pardoning  mercy,  viewing  Christ  as  undertaking  my 
cau-<>  from  eternity,  and  bearing  the  burden  of  my  sins  in 
the  garden  and  on  the  cross.  My  soul  seemed  to  melt  within 
me  in  thinking  of  this  wonderful  atonement,  made  at  such 
expense  for  me  and  other  sinners.  Longed  for  sanctification. 
Entreated,  among  other  things,  with  stroug  wrestlings,  that 
20* 


234  WE  MO  IB    OF  [1817. 

God  would  lay  such  a  sense  of  the  worth  of  souls  upon 

,  that  he  Avill  feel  constrained  to  devote  himself  to  the 

ministry ;  and  that  I  may  live  to  lay  my  hand  on  his  head, 
consecrating  him  to  the  work.*  Wrestled  with  God  to  an 
agony  in  the  case  of  H.  H.,  that  if  he  is  innocent,  his  right- 
eousness may  appear ;  and  if  guilty,  that  this  may  be  so 
manifest  that  no  room  for  doubt  will  remain.  Pleaded 
the  glory  of  God,  his  honor,  his  bleeding  cause,  etc.,  as  rea- 
sons that  these  petitions  should  be  granted.  Had  a  good  day. 
Left  the  wood,  and  visited  four  families,  and  preached  in  the 
evening.  Took  no  sustenance  during  the  day,  till  just  before 
sunset/ 

Being  disappointed  in  obtaining  a  water  passage  up  the 
bay  and  river  on  his  return,  (except  for  a  short  distance,)  he 
travelled  on  foot  —  not  less  than  '  ten  miles '  —  carrying  his 
post-bags,  which  were  '  as  heavy  as  half  a  bushel  of  corn  ; ' 
and  then  preached  in  the  evening. 

During  this  mission,  we  have  one  instance,  among  many, 
of  his  care  of  his  reputation  as  a  minister.  He  had  occasion- 
ally made  some  memoranda  on  newspapers  which  he  had 
sent  home.  That  this  might  be  unlawful,  he  had  not  suspected, 
till  the  thought  was  suggested  to  him  by  a  friend.  On  ex- 
amining the  law,  he  found  that  he  had  done  wrong,  and  felt 
that  he  had  thereby  exposed  the  interests  of  religion. 
'Thought  much,  (he  says,)  of  the  passage,  "  Abstain  from  all 
appearance  of  evil."  Felt  that  I  had  not  sufficiently  attended 
to  it  in  this  particular.  It  would  be  altogether  just,  were  I 
left  to  do  things  which  would  sink  my  reputation,  and  were  I 
entirely  laid  aside  as  a  useless  instrument.  The  unhappy 

*  The  profession  of  the  ministry  was  far  from  the  thoughts  of  the 
•writer  at  this  time ;  and  he  knew  not  that  such  intercessions  had 
ascended  from  any  one  in  reference  to  him,  till,  in  the  preparation  of 
this  work,  his  eye  rested  on  this  remark.  Seven  years  after,  in  the 
same  month,  the  hands  now  raised  in  prayer  were  employed  in  the 
act  of  consecration  so  ardently  desired. 


1818.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  235 

indiscretion  disturbed  me  much  in  family  prayer ;  and  I 
feared  'that  it  would  in  my  lecture  this  forenoon.  But  I 
obtained  such  relief  as  to  have  a  solemn,  comfortable  time. 
Many  were  affected  under  the  word.  Oh,  that  their  impres- 
sions may  not  be  like  the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew ! ' 
For  years  he  had  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  education  of  pious 
young  men  for  the  ministry.  And  during  this  mission,  (as 
on  a  few  occasions  before,)  he  interested  himself  in  obtaining 
a  little  assistance  for  the  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  then 
in  its  infancy;  under  the  name  of  "  Maine  Charity  School." 

On  this  mission,  he  visited  a  few  places  where  he  had  not 
been  before,  as  Cooper  and  Charlotte,  then  unincorporated 
plantations ;  —  settlements  in  the  latter,  having  been  com- 
menced only  seven  or  eight  years  previous.  On  his  return, 
he  visited  Brooksville. 

A  few  weeks  in  the  commencement  of  1818,  he  spent  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  residence ;  and  on  the  nineteenth  of  Feb- 
ruary, he  assisted  in  embodying  a  Congregational  Church  in 
Wilton,  of  eight  members.  A  few  days  after,  he  left  to  per- 
form a  three  months'  mission  in  New  Hampshire,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 
In  passing  to  the  field  of  his  labor,  he  spent  a  Sabbath  in 
Bethel.  Here,  a  revival  of  religion  had  recently  existed, — 
in  consequence  of  which,  about  fifty  were  regarded  as  having 
passed  from  death  to  .life  ;  some  thirty  of  whom  had  united 
with  the  church,  and  others  still  were  in  a  state  of  anxiety. 

Excepting  three  Sabbaths,  which  he  spent  in  Stratham,  his 
labors  in  New  Hampshire  were  confined  to  Gilford,  Mere- 
dith, and  vicinity.  Here,  the  Spirit,  in  greater  or  less  amount, 
appears  to  have  been  descending.  Of  a  Sabbath  which  he 
spent  at  Centre  Harbor,  soon  after  arriving,  he  says,  *  It  was 
truly  a  solemn  time.  The  people  were  all  attention,  and 
many  were  in  tears.'  A  few  days  after,  he  visited  Oilman- 
ton.  Here  he  speaks  of  '  considerable  attention/  under 
the  labors  of  a  Mr.  Stratten.  He  tarried  a  little,  and  preached 


236  MEMOIR     OF  '[1818. 

three  lectures.  Of  the  last  of  these,  which  was  in  the  south 
part  of7 the  town,  he  says,  'The  place  was  crowded,  and  the 
assembly  solemn.  Do  not  know  as  I  ever  enjoyed  a  more 
solemn  season.  The  people  seemed  to  be  all  attention,  and 
many  tears  were  shed.  Have  been  quite  hoarse  of  late,  so 
that  speaking  is  somewhat  difficult  and  laborious.  But  this 
evening  I  forgot  myself,  and  at  the  close  of  meeting,  was  sur- 
prised to  find  that  it  had  occupied  two  and  a  half  hours.'  A 
correspondent  speaks  of  the  revival  here,  as  having  com- 
menced about  the  first  of  June,  and  as  originating  in  the 
reading  of  the  tract,  '•  End  of  Time,"  in  a  circle  of  young  la- 
dies. He  describes  the  work  as  powerful,  and  as  being 
greatly  promoted  by  the  instrumentality  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

At  Loudon,  (near  Concord,)  which  he  visited,  an  outpour- 
ing of  the  Spirit  was  enjoyed.  In  a  lecture  at  Northwood, 
many  wept.  One  man  in  particular,  appeared  deeply  affected. 
After  meeting,  in  company  with  two  or  three  others,  he  vis- 
ited him,  and  found  him  solemnly  impressed.  He  had  a  pious 
wife,  and  had  had  a  pious  mother.  They  sung  the  Hymn, 

"  Vain  arc  the  hopes  that  rebels  place 

Upon  their  birtli  and  hlood ; 
Descended  from  a  pious  race, 
Their  fathers  now  with  God." 

He  then  led  in  prayer ;  '  and  it  did  seem  (he  says)  as  if 
we  drew  near  to  God  with  some  degree  of  humble  confi- 
dence, and  pleaded  for  Mr.  C.  Cannot  but  think  that  he  will 
become  a  Christian.' 

In  Pittsfield,  lie  speaks  of  the  sudden  death  of  llev.  Mr. 
Surgeant,  minister  of  the  place,  which  occurred  about  the 
middle  of  March.  Having  preached  in  the  forenoon,  on  the 
Sabbath,  lie  had  opened  the  afternoon  services,  singing  the 
Psalm,  "  BehoM  thy  waiting  servant,  Lord."  and  the  Hymn, 


1818.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  237 

"  Now  to  the  Lord  who  makes  us  know,"  the  last  lines  of  which 
are, 

l;  Come.  Lord,  nor  let  thy  promise  fail, 
Nor  let  thy  chariot  long  delay." 

He  had  little  more  than  completed  the  exordium  of  his  ser- 
mon, when  he  faltered  and  fell  in  the  pulpit,  by  a  paralytic 
shock,  and  survived  only  a  few  days.  He  had  often  said  that 
he  hoped  he  should  die  preaching. 

Of  the  hoarseness  just  mentioned,  we  hear  again  a  month 
afterward.  And  it  continued  a  while  longer.  Sometimes  it 
was  very  difficult  for  him  to  speak,  even  in  family  visits.  He 
was  also,  at  the  same  time,  afflicted  with  rheumatism,  so  as 
to  make  him  somewhat  lame,  and  render  it  quite  difficult  to 
put  on  and  off  his  clothes.  .And  he  was  otherwise  unwell. 
Still  he  pressed  on,  and  diminished  very  little  from  his  cus- 
tomary amount  of  labor. 

After  completing  his  mission  in  New  Hampshire,  he  at- 
tended the  anniversaries  at  Boston.  Besides  being  in  the 
employ  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
six  months  of  the  current  missionary  year,  he  had  spent 
some  weeks  in  the  service  of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary 
Society.  On  his  journey  homeward,  the  first  of  June,  he 
spent  a  few  days  in  Biddeford  and  Saco,  and  speaks  of  a  re- 
vival of  religion  in  both  these  places. 

The  next  three  months,  during  which  he  labored  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Chesterville,  affords  nothing  of  special  inter- 
est, except  the  forming  of  a  Congregational  Church  in  Free- 
man. The  necessary  measures  were  taken  by  a  council,  on 
the  ninth  of  July ;  and  the  formal  adoption  of  Articles  and 
Covenant,  and  the  reception  of  the  body  thus  organized,  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  churches,  took  place  on  the  following 
Sabbath.*  In  this  solemnity  he  officiated,  and  administered 

*  The  12th  instant. 


233  MEMOIR     OF  '[1818. 

the  Lord's  Supper.  The  church  embodied,  consisted  only  of 
seven  members. 

This  year  and  the  next  were  somewhat  remarkable  for  the 
amount  of  thunder  and  lightning,  and  the  destruction  of  prop- 
erty and  life  by  that  means.  Our  venerable  friend  appeal's 
once  to  have  narrowly  escaped  a  fatal  blow  from  one  of  these 
bolts  of  heaven.  He  was  on  the  road  between  Freeman  and 
Anson,  Sept.  2d.  He.  had  been  overtaken  by  one  shower, 
which  had  detained  him  a  while.  Another  was  coming;  and 
scattering  drops  of  rain  began  to  fall ;  when,  '  a  clap  of  thun- 
der (he  says)  came  so  near  me,  that  I  was  not  sensible  of 
seeing  the  flash.  It  seemed  to  be  behind  me,  and  struck  me 
forward,  and,  for  a  moment,  mazed  me.  My  horse  started, 
and  for  two  or  three  leaps  I  thought  I  should  have  been 
thrown  ;  but  I  succeeded  in  curbing  her.  After  my  momen- 
tary maze,  I  heard  the  rest  of  the  report,  which  was  very 
heavy.  Had  I  been  on  my  feet,  I  should  probably  have  been 
prostrated.  Just  as  easily  [as  to  order  it  thus]  God  might 
have  directed  the  bolt,  and  struck  me  dead  on  the  spot !  But 
mercy  prevented.  Oh,  that  the  remainder  of  my  life  may  be 
devoted  to  his  service.'  In  the  forenoon  of  that  day,  he  had 
had  a  solemn  time  in  preaching  from  the  words,  "  Be  ye  also 
ready ;  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  Man 
cometh  ; "  and  thus  near  did  he  come  to  having  the  solemn 
declaration  verified  upon  himself. 

Before  the  middle  of  September,  he  left  again  for  a  mission 
in  New  Hampshire.  In  passing,  he  spent  a  Sabbath  in  Fry- 
burg.  At  his  third  service,  he  preached  from  the  words, 
"  Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready."  He  enjoyed  much 
liberty ;  and  his  hearers  gave  solemn  attention.  On  return- 
ing to  his  lodgings,  he  found  that  the  attention  of  a  member 
of  the  family  had  been  arrested.  He  conversed  with  her, 
while  her  tears  flowed  freely.  '  In  secret  (he  says)  had  my 
desires  exceedingly  drawn  out  to  God  for  her.  Oh,  that  she 
mav  become  a  new  creature.'  The  seed  which  he  sowed  was 


1818.]  JOT  HAM     SEW  ALL.  239 

generally  watered  freely  with  his  tears.  And  in  this  case,  it 
may  he  a  question  whether  the  awakened  person  shed  more 
than  he  did  in  pleading  with  God  in  her  behalf. 

His  field  of  labor  in  New  Hampshire  was  the  same  as  be- 
fore, and  the  dews  of  heavenly  grace  appear  to  have  been 
distilling,  at  least,  on  some  parts  of  it.  He  speaks  of  solemn 
meetings  and  special  attention  in  Meredith ;  and  were  it  pos- 
sible to  recover  the  reports  which  he  made  to  the  societies 
for  which  he  labored,  we  should  have  a  more  full  and  inter- 
esting account  of  the  state  of  things  in  the  regions  where  he 
preached,  than  is  preserved  in  the  simple  record  of  every-day 
events  in  his  diary. 

He  records  a  somewhat  striking  case  of  awakening  which 
occurred  at  Gilrnantou.  He  had  preached  an  evening  lecture 
from  Jno.  5  :  40,  "  Ye  will  not  come  to  me  that  ye  might  have 
life."  On  leaving  the  place  of  worship,  a  young  man  caught 
one  of  his  hands  in  both  of  his,  exclaiming,  '  I  am  a  great 
sinner !  can  you  pray  for  such  a  poor  sinner  ? '  '  Yes,  if  the 
Lord  helps  me  ;  you  must  pray  for  yourself.'  '  I  can't,  I  am 
such  a  great  sinner  I  am  not  fit  to  pray.  Oh,  can  you  pray 
for  me  ?  Is  there  any  mercy  for  such  a  great  sinner  ? '  Ac- 
cepting an  invitation  which  he  pressed  to  spend  the  night  at 
his  lodgings,  he  conversed  farther  and  prayed  with  him,  read- 
ing the  fifty-first  psalm,  and  endeavoring  to  lead  his  thoughts 
to  the  fountain  of  iniquity  within  him,  from  which  all  out- 
ward transgression  proceeds.  Directing  him,  among  other 
things,  to  read  the  Bible ;  the  poor  youth  replied  that  he  had 
probably  never  read  the  amount  of  ten  chapters  in  his  life ! 
During  the  night  the  young  man  tried  to  lift  up  his  heart  in 
earnest  prayer  to  God  for  mercy,  and  appeared  still  to  be 
deeply  impressed.  With  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  said  that  he 
never  felt  himself  to  be  a  sinner  before  the  previous  evening. 
So  much  of  passion  appeared  to  be  mixed  with  this  case  of 
awakening,  that  the  instrument  of  it,  while  he  prayed  and 
hoped  for  the  best,  feared  that  it  might  not  prove  abiding. 


240  MEMOIR    OF  "[1818. 

Seeing  him,  however,  some  ten  days  afterwards,  he  had  more 
hope  that  he  had  been  truly  humbled.  It  is  not  strange  that 
one  who  had  had  such  deep  acquaintance  with  his  own  heart, 
so  much  knowledge  of  human  nature  in  general,  and  whose 
observation  had  been  so  extensive,  should  be  fearful  of  the 
genuineness  and  permanence  of  apparent  convictions  where 
the  passions  are  strongly  excited.  The  surface  of  the  soul, 
(so  to  speak,)  may  be  greatly  agitated  by  a  sudden  gust  which 
passes  over  it,  where  its  depths  are  not  moved.  Against  mis- 
takes of  this  kind,  he  was  ever  watchful.  And  an  event 
which  had  occurred  in  a  meeting  a  little  previous  to  the  above, 
led  him  in  secret,  while  uncommonly  drawn  out  in  prayer  to 
God  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  to  plead,  even  to  an  agony, 
that  he  would  accomplish  a  work  there,  characterized  by 
calmness,  power,  and  scriptural  views  and  saving  issues  in  its 
subjects,  and  free  from  tumult  and  irregularity.  And  it  was 
proper  to  urge  such  petitions ;  for  he  well  knew  that  strong 
passionate  excitement,  connected  with  religious  awakenings, 
forms  a  kind  of  hot-bed  where  false  hopes  spring  and  are 
cherished,  and  that,  as  a  consequence,  souls  are  deceived  and 
ruined. 

And  while  he  was  awake  to  the  faults  of  others,  he  was 
awake  to  his  own.  Anything  in  his  deportment,  which  tended 
to  counteract  the  influence  of  truth,  he  deeply  lamented,  and 
before  God,  deprecated  its  consequences.  One  Sabbath  eve- 
ning he  related  rather  an  amusing  anecdote  about  '  Father 
Moody.'  'For  this,  (he  says,)  my  heart  afterwards  re- 
proached me,  as  it  tended  to  promote  levity  in  the  children, 
and  might  erase  serious  impressions  from  their  minds,  if  any 
had  been  made.  Oh,  what  an  imperfect  creature  I  am.  I 
often  fear  that  I  shall  destroy  souls  instead  of  saving  them. 
I  am  so  much  like  those  spoken  of  in  Scripture,  who  caused 
the  people  to  err  through  their  lightness,  that  I  deserve  to  be 
turned  out  of  the  vineyard,  and  never  made  use  of  again. 
Oh,  that  God  *would  counteract  this  evil  tendency  of  my 


1818.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  241 

nature.  Lord,  press  this  disposition  into  thy  service  —  sanc- 
tify or  destroy  it,  that  I  may  not  dishonor  thee  thereby.' 
During  a  part  of  the  night  his  eyes  were  held  from  sleep  by 
the  thought  of  his  folly :  and  he  lamented  it  before  God,  and 
sought  forgiveness  and  grace  to  be  more  watchful  and  circum- 
spect. 

In  Guilford  he  received  at  least  one  cheering  evidence 
that  his  labors  there  the  previous  spring  were  not  in  vain.  A 
man  then  impressed,  came  into  his  room,  who,  on  being  ques- 
tioned, gave  a  circumstantial  account  of  a  change  which  had 
taken  place  in  him.  His  views  of  his  guilt  and  helplessness 
were  uncommonly  strong  and  clear,  and  he  gave  pleasing 
evidence  of  having  been  truly  converted.  For  this  instance 
of  the  success  of  his  labors,  he  thanked  God  and  took  courage. 

During  this  and  his  previous  mission  here,  a  flourishing 
Sabbath  School  appears  to  have  existed  at  Meredith  Bridge, 
where  he  principally  preached.  It  met  both  before  and  after 
meeting,  as  a  record  of  his  frequent  attendance  shows.* 

*  While  here  he  received  from  John  Shepard,  Esq.,  an  account  of 
the  origin  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination  in  this  country. 
The  statement  may  be  worth  something  as  a  historical  fact,  and  is 
given  on  the  authority  of  the  relater.  This  Mr.  Shepard  said  '  that  he 
and  Edward  Lock  dissented  from  the  Calvinistic  Baptists  in  1780. 
A  Council  of  Baptist  Ministers,  which  was  called  to  set  apart  Mr. 
Lock  to  the  ministry,  on  ascertaining  his  Freewill  sentiments,  refused  to 
do  it,  and  declined  to  hold  him  longer  in  fellowship.  One  Tosier  Lord, 
an  ordained  Baptist  Minister,  said,  If  you  withdraw  fellowship  from 
Lock,  you  withdraw  it  from  me,  for  I  am  of  the  same  belief,  etc. 
They  accordingly  withdrew.  A  while  afterward,  Mr.  Lord,  with  the 
help  of  some  private  brethren,  ordained  Mr.  Lock  ;  and  also  set  apart 
Mr.  Shepard,  [the  narrator]  as  a  Ruling  Elder.  By  others  they  were 
called  '  Freewillers.'  That  was  their  origin.  Afterward  they  con- 
secrated Mr.  Randall,  of  New  Durham.'  This  statement  is  corrobo- 
rated by  Elder  Samuel  Beede,  formerly  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Morning  Star,  who  says,  '  In  North  America,  in  the  year  1780,  the 
first  Church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at  New  Durham,  N. 
H.,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Elder  Bcnj.  Randall.'  See  liel.  Ene., 
art.  Freewill  Baptists.  21 


'242  MEMOIR     OF  [1819. 

When  he  had  finished  this  mission  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment to  perform  one  of  three  months  in  Stratham,  N.  H. 
Without  visiting  his  family,  he  entered  upon  this  about  the 
middle  of  January.  He  had  continued  a  little  more  than  a 
fortnight,  when  he  heard  joyful  news  from  home.  A  revi- 
val of  religion  had  commenced  in  the  place  ;  a  dozen  or  more 
had  indulged  hope ;  many  were  under  deep  impressions,  and, 
among  these,  some  of  his  own  children.  This  information 
was  so  unexpected  that  it  struck  him  with  astonishment.  A 
multitude  of  thoughts  rushed  in  upon  his  mind ;  and  his  feel- 
ings were  indescribable.  He  longed  to  be  there ;  but  how 
could  he  dispense  with  his  present  engagement  ?  Had  he  gone 
home  at  the  close  of  his  previous  mission,  he  would  have 
been  there  at  its  commencement;  and  now,  possibly,  the 
cloud  of  mercy,  so  sudden  in  its  rise,  and  so  rapid  in  its  pro- 
gress, might  pass  over  before  he  could  reach  the  place,  after 
fulfilling  existing  appointments  and  making  the  requisite  ar- 
rangements. Would  any  of  his  children  become  pious  ?  Would 
no  prejudice  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  the  interests  of  souls  re- 
sult from  a  want  of  competent  instruction  at  such  a  critical 
time  ?  And  to  add  to  the  emotions  produced  by  these  and  simi- 
lar thoughts,  his  horse,  in  consequence  of  a  recent  injury,  was 
unfit  for  use.  He  spread  the  matter  before  God,  and  asked  di- 
rection. Under  existing  circumstances  he  could  not,  of  course, 
remain  contentedly  where  he  was,  unless  the  indications  of 
Providence  that  he  should,  were  too  plain  to  be  mistaken.  On 
inquiry  he  found  that  his  horse  was  better ;  and  he  ventured  to 
enter  upon  arrangements  for  leaving  as  soon  as  he  consistently 
could.  A  few  days  more  found  him  on  his  way  to  his  much- 
loved  home,  possessing  now  stronger  attractions  than  ever  be- 
fore. On  arriving  he  found  that  four  of  his  children  were  indul- 
ging hope.  'If  they  are  really  converted,  (he  said)  what  an 
abundant  mercy  I  God  has  remembered  his  covenant,  and  be- 
come the  God  of  my  seed.  It  is  not  in  vain  to  exercise  faith  in 
his  covenant — it  is  not  in  vain  to  pray.  God  is  a  hearer  of 
prayer.' 


1819.]  J  O  T  II  A  M    S  E  W  A  I,  L .  2  13 

The  next  clay,  after  visiting  some,  he  attended  a  conference 
in  the  afternoon,  and  heard  a  number  of  the  subjects  of  the 
work  relate  the  exercises  of  their  minds.  He  found  reason 
to  think  that  the  changes  wrought  in  his  own  family,  (as  well 
as  in  the  minds  of  others)  were  real.  And  he  exclaimed,' 
'  Oh,  what  reason  have  I  to  be  thankful.  Sometimes  I  can 
scarcely  realize  it  possible  that  I  have  five  new  children  — 
one  formerly,  and  four  now.  I  sometimes  think  of  that  pas- 
sage, "  When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion, 
we  were  like  them  that  dream." '  And  he  was  not  the  only 
one  who  felt  that  what  their  eyes  saw  could  scarcely  be  a 
reality.  The  work  was  as  unexpected,  and  almost  as  sudden, 
to  those  who  were  on  the  ground,  as  it  was  to  him.  As  far 
as  is  known,  no  one  was  expecting  it.  If  any  special  quick- 
ening among  Christians,  or  any  increased  spirit  of  prayer 
preceded  the  appearance  of  cases  of  anxiety,  and  soon,  of 
conversion,  it  was  so  inconsiderable  or  so  confined  to  the  de- 
votions of  the  closet,  as  not  to  be  particularly  apparent.  It 
appears  to  have  been  a  sudden  visit  of  mercy  resulting  from 
a  long-accumulating  influence  of  prayer  before  the  throne. 
A  few  cases  of  unusual  thoughtfulness  existed  toward  the 
close  of  December.  The  district  school  *  commenced  early 
in  January ;  and  there  the  work  soon  became  solemnly  appa- 
rent. Cases  of  awakening  and  hopeful  conversion  followed 
each  other ;  and  some  particular  days  were  invested  with  a 
solemnity  which  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  wit- 
nessed it.  This  is  not  the  place  to  give  an  account  of  the 
work,  or  cases  and  facts  might  be  stated  which  would  deeply 
interest  every  pious  reader.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  during  the 
school,  which  was  somewhat  less  than  three  months,  about 
two  thirds  of  the  pupils  indulged  a  hope  of  having  passed 
from  death  unto  life.  Out  of  the  school,  too,  among  all  classes, 
wonders  of  saving  mercy  were  wrought  —  scarcely  a  house 

*  Taught  by  the  writer. 


244  MEMOIR   or 

was  passed  by.  The  work  was  as  general  and  glorious  as 
the  fatal  calamity  five  years  before  had  been  indiscriminate 
and  desolating.  Tares,  indeed,  were  among  the  wheat ;  false 
hopes  were  indulged.  But  the  lapse  of  more  than  thirty 
years  justifies  the  remark  that  it  was  a  rich  and  glorious 
work  of  grace,  for  which  many  doubtless  will  bless  God  to 
all  eternity. 

He  who  had  long  prayed,  and  wept,  and  labored  for  the  sal- 
vation of  his  children  and  neighbors,  now  had  occasion  to  re- 
joice, and  bless  God  that  his  desires  were  granted.  He  had 
the  happiness  of  seeing  some  in  middle  life,  and  many  of  the 
young  rejoicing  in  the  Lord ;  and  others,  with  anxious  hearts, 
inquiring  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved.  Thoroughly  im- 
pressed, indeed,  as  he  was,  of  the  deceitfulness  of  the  human 
heart,  he  rejoiced  with  trembling.  Of  some,  he  was  ready  to 
stand  in  doubt,  in  reference  to  whom  the  joy  and  confidence  of 
those  who  were  less  discriminating  were  apparently  unqual- 
ified. But  his  joy  could  not,  on  this  account,  have  been  in 
reality  less  ;  since,  the  greater  the  power  of  discernment,  the 
higher  must  be  the  pleasure  where  the  genuine  is  seen. 

Some  weeks  after  his  return,  he  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of 
receiving  to  the  church,  among  others,  his  wife,  and  a  son  and 
wife.  His  seat  at  the  table  of  the  Lord  that  day  was  ren- 
dered delightful  by  a  circumstance  which  had  never  before 
occurred.  'My  prayers  (he  says)  are  so  far  answered,  that 
my  wife  and  I  sit  at  the  same  communion-table  together,  and 
some  of  my  children  are  become  as  olive  plants  round  about 
the  Lord's  table.  T  am  unworthy  to  live  to  see  this  day.'  A 
few  weeks  after,  he  received,  with  others,  another  child  to  the 
visible  kingdom  of  Christ.  It  was  the  fourth  of  July  ;  and, 
partly  in  view  of  God's  goodness  to  the  nation,  and  partly  in 
view  of  the  rich  spiritual  blessing  just  bestowed,  he  preached 
from  the  words,  "He  hath  not  dealt  so  with  any  nation  ; 
praise  ye  the  Lord." 

This  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  was  made  the  means  of  ful- 


1819.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  245 

filling  the  desire  of  his  heart  in  another  respect.  It  so  exer- 
cised the  mind  of  the  writer,  who,  as  Providence  ordered  his 
occupation,  had  much  to  do  with  the  youth  who  indulged 
hope,  that,  in  the  following  autumn  he  saw  him  a  member  of 
a  Theological  Seminary. 

Special  religious  interest  existed  this  year  in  a  number  of 
towns  in  the  vicinity ;  though  in  none  of  them  was  the  work 
as  powerful  as  in  Chesterville.  New  Sharon,  Industry,  and 
Anson  were  visited  more  or  less  at  the  same  time,  and  Vienna 
near  it.  In  other  places  some  movement  is  thought  to  have 
existed  ;  and  he  received  to  the  churches  in  Anson,  Industry, 
Wilton,  Temple,  and  Strong,  a  number  of  persons.  In  King- 
field,  also,  on  the  third  of  October,  he  gathered  a  church  of 
eight  members. 

The  reader  will  naturally  anticipate  that  he  could  not  pass 
through  such  a  season  of  interest  without  the  existence  of 
much  special,  earnest  intercourse  between  him  and  God.  But 
the  difference  between  one  who  habitually  lives  near  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  one  who  seldom  wakes  up  to  real  earn- 
estness except  at  such  times,  should  be  borne  in  mind.  The 
former  will  be  active  and  fervent  when  no  special  interest 
exists.  lie  may,  perhaps,  be  more  so,  on  this  very  account. 
The  fact  that  all  are  slumbering  together,  may  be  more  affect- 
ing to  his  mind,  and  call  forth  more  agonizing  supplications 
than  when  Christians  are,  in  good  measure,  awake,  and  shi- 
ners are  agitating  the  hopeful  inquiry,  "  What  must  I  do  to 
be  savdd?."  Before  that  time  comes,  his  wrestlings  may 
have  won  the  blessing;  and  you  may  look  to  him  in  vain,  for 
that  increased  spirit  of  prayer,  which  you  see  in  others.  It 
would  not  be  easy  to  conceive  how  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
could  possess  more  intense  anxiety,  in  prayer,  for  his  family, 
and  neighbors,  and  the  region  around  him  than  he  had,  at 
some  previous  times.  Interesting  notices,  indeed,  appear  at 
this  time  in  hjs  diary ;  but  not  more  so  than  some  which  have 
been  already  introduced. 

21* 


246  MEMOIR     OF  [1819. 

Remaining  at  home,  as  he  did  most  of  this  year,  he  saw 
many  things  of  a  worldly  nature  which  required  attention. 
And  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty  entirely  to  neglect  them.  Still, 
he  did  not  forget,  that  to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and 
the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  should  be  his  princi- 
pal business.  His  conscience  was  awake  to  the  claims  which 
these  had  upon  him,  and  to  any  undue  intrusions  which  secu- 
lar business  might  make  upon  his  time.  An  entry  intis 
diary  shows  the  activity  of  his  moral  sense  in  this  respect. 
The  special  religious  interest  had  passed  by.  No  case  of  con- 
version had  occurred  for  months ;  and  no  instance  of  peculiar 
seriousness  existed.  After  occupying  most  of  a  day  in  a 
piece  of  common  labor,  he  said,  '  Felt  some  sense  of  guilt  in 
the  evening  that  I  had  not  visited  some  to-day,  as  the  business 
I  attended  to  was  not  pressing.  Sometimes  think  of  my  or- 
dination vows  with  solemn  concern,  lest  I  violate  them.  O 
God,  deliver  me  from  the  sin  of  perjury.'  Some  two  months 
afterward  he  was  pained  by  similar  feelings,  occasioned  by 
coldness  and  wanderings  of  mind  during  the  duties  of  the 
Sabbath.  A  peculiar  matter  lay  upon  his  hands,  in  which  lie 
was  necessarily  and  deeply  interested,  and  in  which,  unhap- 
pily, he  had  experienced  some  disappointment.*  A  mind 
must  have  been  in  a  peculiarly  heavenly  frame  to  have  expe- 
rienced no  intrusion  of  worldly  thoughts  under  the  circum- 
stances in  which  he  was  placed.  Still,  he  felt  that  no  posture 
of  worldly  affairs  could  constitute  an  excuse  for  deviating  from 
the  strictness  of  the  Divine  injunctions,  and  that  .nothing  of 
the  kind  should  interfere  with  the -spirituality  of  the  duties 
and  services  of  holy  time.  Hence,  after  .the  Sabbath  above 
alluded  to,  he  says, '  The  day  was  not  as  comfortable  to  my 
soul  as  some  Lord's  days  have  been.  I  found  it  difficult  to 
keep  the  cares  and  business  in  which  I  had  become  engaged 

*  The  readiness  of  a  place  for  the  family  of  the  writer,  who  had  re- 
moved to  the  neighborhood  of  Bangor  Theological  Seminary. 


1820.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  247 

out  of  my  mind.  Evil  sometimes  attends  needful  business. 
O  God,  pardon  my  great  and  sinful  imperfections,  for  Christ's 
sake  alone.'  The  same  matter  had  troubled  him  the  previous 
Sabbath ;  and  the  following  entry,  which  he  here  made, 
shows  how  he  felt  about  it.  '  Last  Sabbath  night  I  awoke, 
and  felt  afraid  that  blood-guiltiness  would  be  charged  upon 
me ;  and  it  will  be  a  miracle  of  mercy  "if  it  is  not  so  at  last.' 
He  greatly  feared  lest  unfaithfulness  in  him  should  occasion 
a  failure  of  salvation  to  others.  Hence,  at  another  time,  after 
a  Sabbath,  in  which  he  enjoyed  not  those  tokens  of  the  Divine 
presence  and  assistance,  which  he  always  earnestly  desired, 
we  find  him  in  his  closet,  the  following  morning,  pleading 
earnestly  with  God  to  avert  from  his  soul  the  charge  of  blood- 
guiltiness. 

The  fruits  of  the  revival  in  Chesterville  were  shared  by 
the  Freewill  Baptists,  Calvinist  Baptists.*  and  Congregation- 
alists.  One  effect  of  it  on  the  latter  church  and  society,  — 
especially  as  they  owned  about  half  of  the  meeting-house, 
now  finished  and  dedicated,* —  was  to  make  them  feel  the 
need  of  a  pastor.  On  the  22d  of  June,  1820,  the  church 
unanimously  requested  him  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
this  office.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  the  9th  of  August 
was  installed.  This,  however,  as  the  church  was  small,  and 
those  who  acted  with  it,  were  few  and  feeble,  was  only  for  a 
portion  of  the  year.  For  the  small  sum  of  four  dollars  per 
week,  he  agreed  to  labor  with  them  at  least  one  quarter  of  the 
time.  This  gave  him  opportunity  to  gratify  his  prevailing  in- 
clination for  a  missionary  life.  In  entering  upon  his  new  du- 
ties, (which,  however,  was  not  on  the  Sabbath  next  following 

*  It  was  dedicated  May  31,  1820.  In  the  forenoon,  a  meeting  for 
thanksgiving  and  prayer  was  held  at  the  house  in  view  of  the  revival 
which  had  been  enjoyed,  and  that  God  had  succeeded  their  efforts  in 
ejecting  a  house  for  his  worship.  In  the  afternoon,  the  appropriate 
services  were  performed.  In  these,  Rev.  Messrs.  Gillet.  of  Ilallowell, 
and  Sewall,  of  Snmner,  participated.  The  former  preached. 


248 


MEM  OIK    OFJOTHAM     SEWA.LL. 


'[1820. 


his  installation,)  he  preached  from  Ezek.  33  :  7,  "  O,  son  of 
man,  I  have  set  thee  a  Watchman,"  etc.  '  Had  a  very  solemn 
season  (he  says)  ;  felt  my  responsibility  as  a  Watchman.  O 
that  I  may  be  found  faithful,  and  not  have  the  blood  of  souls 
required  at  my  hands.' 


v  CHAPTER  VII. 

TOUR  EASTWARD. JOURNEY  SOUTH. ANOTHER  AGENCY 

FOR  BANGOR  SEMINARY. PREACHES  TO  SEAMEN  IN 

PORTLAND.  —  DEATH  OF  A  DAUGHTER. 

A  PART  of  the  winter  and  a  part  of  the  autumn  of  1820, 
he  spent  at  Castine.  Here  some  special  religious  interest  ex- 
isted. A  few  days  after  he  arrived,  he  found  a  few  who  were 
in  a  state  of  anxiety  ;  and  soon  some  began  to  hope.  At  the 
commencement  of  his  labors  here,  he  observed  a  day  of  pri- 
vate fasting  and  prayer.  '  Had  a  good  day,  (he  says).  Be- 
sought God  in  earnest  prayer;  and  experienced  much  free- 
dom in  pouring  out  my  soul  to  him  for  many  things  ;  and 

among  others,  for  the  conversion  of  my  son  D .'  He 

probably  little  thought  that  he  was  thus  virtually  praying  God 
to  raise  up  a  pastor  for  the  church,  for  the  existence  of  which 
his  labors  were  preparing  the  way.  But  He  who  abounds 
in  goodness,  sometimes,  in  answering  the  requests  of  his  peo- 
plej  exceeds  their  expectations. 

Occasionally,  his  diary  contains  a  sketch  of  the  train  of 
thought  which  he  pursued  in  his  sermons.  No  accurate  theo- 
logian will  expect,  from  one  of  so  little  education,  and  whose 
mind  had  not  been  disciplined  in  the  niceties  of  criticism,  and 
whose  sermons  in  general  were  hastily  and  roughly  prepared, 
plans  which  will  sustain  a  rigid  examination.  Still,  one  now 
and  then  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader,  as  exhibiting  the 
manner  in  which  he  handled  subjects.  Two  are  here 
given,  which  were  used  in  succession  on  the  Sabbath.  The 
first  was  from  Matt.  6  : 23,  "  If  therefore  the  light  that  is  in 
thee  be  darkness,  how  great  is  that  darkness."  '  I.  To  show 


250  M  E  M  O  I  B    O  F  [1 820. 

what  light  may  be  in  persons,  and  yet  be  darkness  :  —  (Natu- 
ral, Speculative,  Erroneous,  Enthusiastic,  etc.)  II.  How 
may  that  darkness  be  termed  great  ?  —  It  is  total  in  the 
heart ;  It  affects  all  the  other  powers  of  the  soul ;  It  prevents 
people  from  doing  anv  work  for  God ;  It  is  of  the  nature  of 
the  gloom  of  hell ;  It  insures  misery  ;  Without  repentance,  it 
will  last  forever.'  —  The  second  was  from  Eph.  5:8,  "  For 
ye  were  sometimes  darkness,  but  now  are  ye  light  in  the 
Lord  ;  walk  as  children  of  the  light."  '  I.  Show  how  those 
who  were  in  darkness,  become  light  in  the  Lord.  II.  The 
obligations  of  such  to  walk  as  children  of  the  light.'  Enjoy- 
ing a  comfortable  measure,  of  freedom  and  solemnity,  it  can- 
not be  doubted  that  he  made  an  impression. 

His  diary  furnishes  incidental  notices  of  persons  in  an 
anxious  state  of  mind,  and  of  cases  of  hope  in  Castine.  But 
he  has  not  favored  us  with  any  account  of  the  duration  or 
extent  of  the  work.  In  August,  however,  while  he  was  labor- 
ing elsewhere,  a  second  Congregational  Church  was  formed 
here,  principally,  at  least,  of  resident  members  belonging  to 
the  church  in  Bluehill.*  On  the  last  Sabbath  which  he  spent 
here  at  this  time,  he  received  three  to  this  church,  and  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  Supper.  After  an  evening  lecture  on 
that  day,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson,  recently  from  Bangor  Semi- 
nar}', he  says,  '  I  gave  an  exhortation,  and  prayed.  Had  my 
feelings  very  much  wrought  up  in  exhorting  and  in  prayer. 
Directed  my  remarks  to  the  men.  A  number  of  females 
have  been  wrought  upon,  but  not  a  male,  lately.  Oh,  that 
God  would  take  a  dealing  with  them,  and  translate  them  out 
of  the  kingdom  of  Satan  into  the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son. 
The  Lord  has  need  of  them.  Don't  know  that  I  ever  felt 
more  importunate  in  prayer  for  souls.'  While  here,  he  felt 
much  in  prayer  for  some  particular  families,  which  have 
since  been  greatly  blessed. 

During  his  labors  here,  he  interested  himself  in  making 
*  Grecnleafs  Sketches. 


1821.]  JOTHA.M    SETVALL.  251 

some  collections  for  '  The  Maine  Charity  School.'  In  April, 
he  visited  Deer  Isle,  apparently  for  this  object.  Here  an 
interesting  revival  of  religion  was  in  progress,  under  the 
labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wines,  who  had  recently  left  the  profes- 
sorship of  theology  in  that '  School.'  About  forty  had  indulged 
hope,  and  others  were  anxious.  His  diary  for  this  year  also 
mentions  a  revival  in  Winthrop,  and  another  in  Hallowell  — 
the  latter  more  powerful  and  extensive  than  any  which  had 
been  enjoyed  there  before. 

In  the  former  part  of  1821,  he  took  a  tour  to  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State,  passing  over  the  same  ground  as  heretofore. 
The  winter  was  severe ;  and  he  speaks  of  crossing  the  head 
of  the  bay,  from  Surry  to  Trenton,  on  the  ice  ;  and  of  going 
on  and  off  Mount  Desert  Island,  and  of  crossing  at  the  ferry- 
way  at  Sullivan,  in  the  same  way. 

In  one  of  the  eastern  towns,  he  attended  the  funeral  of  a 
man,  whose  death  should  be  a  warning  to  those  who  are 
neglecting  their  immortal  interests ;  and  especially  to  those 
who  are  disposed  to  yield  to  improper  indulgences.  The 
man  had  been  intemperate.  When  told  by  his  physician  that 
he  could  not  live,  he  sprang  from  his  bed,  and  walked  across 
the  room  in  agony,  exclaiming,  '  I  cannot  die !  I  am  unpre- 
pared ! '  And  in  such  a  state,  his  reluctant  soul  was 


'•  Forced  away, 


To  seek  its  last  abode." 

The  anguish  of  such  an  hour,  even  to  say  nothing  of  what  lies 
beyond,  is  well  avoided  by  a  whole  life  of  prayerful  and  self- 
denying  piety. 

At  Robbinston,  he  enjoyed  a  season  of  peculiar  interest. 
Of  a  Sabbath  which  he  spent  there  he  says, l  Felt  very  desir- 
ous of  doing  good  to-day  to  some  soul  or  souls.'  And  yet  he 
seems  to  have  been  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  his  unworthi- 
ness.  '  I  am  such  an  impure,  filthy  vessel,  that  I  am  unfit 
for  the  Master's  use.  Oh,  to  be  purified,  and  be  the  means 


252  MEMOIR    OF  [1821. 

of  good.'  He  enjoyed  very  solemn  seasons  in  the  public 
duties  of  the  day.  Of  the  place  he  says,  '  Find  here  a  num- 
ber of  pious  females,  who  have  unbelieving  husbands.  I  long 
for  their  conversion.  Several  of  them  are  steady,  moral, 
amiable  men.'  Of  one  man  he  says, '  Felt  such  a  desire  that 

Gen.  B r  should  become  pious,  that  I  could  scarcely 

contain  myself  in  the  meeting  and  afterwards,  [lecture  in  the 
evening].  Pleaded  for  him  and  wife  in  the  devotions  of  the 
family  and  closet.  Oh,  that  God  would  glorify  himself  in  their 
conversion  and  salvation  ! ' 

On  his  way  to  Dennysville  the  next  day,  where  lie  was  to 
preach  in  the  evening,  he  says,  '  Earnestly  besought  God  that 
he  would  bless  the  opportunity  this  evening,  as  it  will  prob- 
ably be  the  last  time  that  I  shall  lift  my  feeble  arm  to  aim  a 
blow  at  Satan's  kingdom  here.  Preached  from  Zech.  2:4; 
and  truly  it  was  a  solemn  season.  The  assembly  was  full  and 
attentive,  and  did  not  appear  to  be  weary,  though  the  meeting 
was  two  hours  long.  Felt  as  if  I  was  doing  my  last  work 
here,  before  I  should  meet  them  at  the  bar  of  God.'  He  also 
enjoyed  a  very  solemn  season  in  a  lecture  at  East  Machias. 

At  Eastport,  where  a  small  orthodox  Congregational 
Church  had  been  formed  a  few  years  previous,  he  found  that 
a  church  had  been  organized  on  the  25th  of  February,  on 
'Unitarian  principles,'  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  BSgelow,  who  was 
preaching  there.  With  this  church,  the  society  in  general 
appear  to  have  sympathized. 

This  tour,  which  occupied  the  most  of  February  and  March, 
appears  to  have  been  taken  to  solicit  aid  for  the**  Maine 
Charity  School.'  But,  though  doing  what  he  could  for  that, 
he  remembered  that  his  great  business  was  to  be  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  in  labors  to  bring  souls  to  Christ, 
and  train  them  for  heaven. 

After  returning  from  this  tour,  (excepting  an  absence  of  a 
journey  to  Boston,)  he  labored  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence 


April.]  JOTHA3I    SEW  A  LI.  .  253 

till  near  the  close  of  October.  During  that  time,  we  shall  do 
little  more  than  give  a  few  extracts  from  his  diary. 

Sabbath,  April  22d,  he  preached  in  ChesterviHe.  '  Enjoyed, 
(he  says,)  a  good  season,  especially  in  the  afternoon,  treating 
upon  the  doctrine  of  election.  [His  text  was  Eph.  1  :  4, 
"According  as  he  hath  chosen  us  in  him,"  etc.]  Whatever 
others  may  think  about  this  doctrine,  I  do  love  it,  and  love  to 
preach  it.  I  have  often  noticed,  that  when  I  have  attempted 
to  treat  upon  the  subjecj,  I  have  enjoyed  much  of  the  Divine 
presence  and  assistance.  It  seems  to  me  to  lay  at  the  very 
foundation  of  all  religion.  If  God  had  not  undertaken  the 
work  of  man's  redemption,  no  being  could  have  undertaken 
it.  Oh,  the  matchless  love  of  God,  that  he  should  choose  us 
in  Christ  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  that  we  should 
be  holy,  and  without  blame  before  him  in  love  ! ' 

The  separation  of  Christians  from  each  other,  especially  at 
the  Lord's  Table,  was  peculiarly  repugnant  to  his  feelings. 
Toward  the  close  of  May,  he  exchanged  with  a  Baptist  cler- 
gyman, to  give  the  Calvinist  Baptist  Church  which  had  been 
formed  in  Chesterville  an  opportunity  to  enjoy  the  ordinance 
of  the  Supper.  For  this,  the  Baptist  brother,  (returning 
home  on  Sabbath  evening,)  thanked  him.  He  replied,  '  So, 
instead  of  giving  them  a  try  on  close  communion,  I  must  help 
build  it  up,  must  I  ?  (alluding  to  conversation  which  once 
passed  between  us  relative  to  having  a  Baptist  Church  formed 
in  Chesterville).  Why,  said  he,  I  have  been  thinking  to-day 
that  your  "being  so  catholic  as  to  exchange  with  me  for  the 
sake  oi'  giving  them  an  opportunity,  will  do  more  to  do  away 
with  close  communion,  than  if  you  should  bring  forward  all 
your  artillery  against  it.  I  never  had  my  feelings  so  tried  in 
my  life.  There  were  all  your  Christian  friends  around  me,' 
etc.  Oh,  that  God  would,  by  some  means,  break  down  these 
walls  of  separation  from  among  his  dear  children  ! ' 

After  enjoying  a  good  Sabbath  at  Northampton,  N.  H., 
on  his  way  to  Boston,  he  says, '  Oh,  how  abundant  in  mercy 


254  MEMOIR     OF  {1821 

is  my  gracious  God  and  Redeemer  to  a  poor,  utterly  unwor- 
thy sinner !  What  shall  I  render  to  thee,  O  Lord,  for  all  thy 
benefits  ?  What  returns  shall  I  make  for  so  many  mercies  ? ' 

Efforts  had  now  begun  to  be  made  in  behalf  of  seamen ; 
and  on  the  forenoon  of  Sabbath,  June  17th,  he  supplied  Dr. 
Jenks,  who  preached  to  them  in  a  hall  on  Central  Wharf. 
He  spoke  from  Lk.  18 :  13,  "And  the  publican,  standing  afar 
off,"  etc.  '  Think  it  was  not  in  vain,  (he  says,)  as  it  respects 
my  own  soul ;  and  I  hope  not  in  vain  to  others.  They  were 
generally  attentive,  and  some  wept.'  In  the  afternoon,  he 
preached  for  the  Doctor  in  West  Boston  ;  and  in  the  evening 
at  Park  Street  Church. 

In  September,  he  supplied  a  Sabbath  at  Bloornfield  on 
exchange.  <  In  the  morning,  (he  says,)  felt  very  dull  in  body 
and  mind.  Tried  to  pray  a  number  of  times,  and  meditate 
X>n  the  Scriptures  ;  but  could  get  little  or  no  nearness  to  God, 
which  was  a  trial  to  me.  But  God  was  pleased  to  grant 
relief  in  the  first  prayer  in  the  public  exercises.'  He  had  a 
solemn,  interesting  day. 

The  Sabbath  next  following,  he  was  at  Chesterville.  He 
says :  '  Rose  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  and  retired  and 
spread  a  number  of  things  before  God  in  prayer  ;  particularly 
the  duties  of  the  approaching  day.  Preached  from  2  Thess. 
2  :  11,  12,  and  Ps.  69  :  4.  Baptized  Mrs.  B.  and  received 
her  to  the  church,  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Think  I  have  not  enjoyed  such  a  Sabbath  at  home  since  our 
late  church  difficulties.* 

A  short  time  after  this,  he  spent  a  night  under  the  same 
roof  with  a  son  of  the  widow  who  had  formerly  lived  in  his 
house,  and  who  had  recently  returned  from  a  twenty  years' 
absence  at  sea,  '  In  family  prayer,  (he  says,)  I  felt  uncom- 
monly for  him  ;  it  seemed  as  if  he  must  be  converted.  I  leave 
him  with  God.' 

*  Some  painful  matters  of  discipline  had  been  before  the  church  for 
some  time. 


Sept. -Oct.]  JOTHAM  SEW  ALL.  25/5 

On  the  2Gth  of  September,  he  attended  the  ordination  of 
Rev.  David  Starrett  at  Weld. 

He  had  manifested  his  interest  in  the  '  Maine  Charity 
School'  by  various  little  donations,  and  by  giving  to  its  library 
at  one  time  fifty  dollars  worth  of  books  from  his  own.  He 
was  now  about  to  enter  on  an  agency  in  its  behalf  in  some  of 
the  middle  and  southern  States.  Previous  to  his  departure, 
he  so  adjusted  all  his  temporal  concerns,  as  to  save  his  heirs 
the  cost  and  trouble  of  a  division  and  settlement  of  his  estate 
in  case  of  his  decease.  Having  completed  the  business,  he 
says,  '  Oh,  that  my  spiritual  concerns  may  be  in  as  good  or 
better  preparation,  so  that  instead  of  deeding  away  property, 
I  may  enter  on  the  full  and  everlasting  inheritance  qf  heaven, 
through  the  deed  of  gift  bestowed  through  Him  who  is  heir 
of  all  things  ;  which  is  put  on  record  in  the  Bible,  according 
to  the  eternal  counsels  of  God.  Glory  to  God  for  such  an 
inheritance,  that  will  never  be  taken  away,  alienated,  trans- 
ferred, or  lessened.'  Being  about  to  leave  the  next  morning, 
he  says,  '  Up  pretty  early  ;  got  things  in  readiness  for  my 
departure ;  and  had  a  very  solemn,  affectionate,  and  comfort- 
ing season  in  family  prayer,  committing  all  to  God.  There 
I  leave  myself,  my  wife,  my  children,  and  the  church.' 

He  first  went  to  Boston,  and  thence  to  New  York  and 
Washington.  Passing  through  Portland,  he  heard  Dr.  (then 
Rev.  Mr.)  Payson  deliver  his  celebrated  address  to  seamen, 
Sabbath  evening.  October  28th.  Of  this  he  says,  '.The  seats 
both  sides  the  broad  aisle  were  assigned  to  mariners,  and  were 
all  filled.  The  house  was  so  crowded,  that  numbers  went 
awav.  The  address  was  solemn  and  good ;  numbers  wept. 
After  the  discourse,  several  applied  for  a  copy  for  the  press. 
He  was  reluctant ;  but  I  hope  it  will  be  published.  It  will 
make  an  excellent  tract  for  seamen.' 

As  he  p^sed  on  through  Massachusetts,  New  York  City, 
Princeton,  Philadelphia,  and  Wilmington,  he  presented  his 
object  in  public  and  private,  and  with  the  various  success 


256  MEMOIR   OP  [1822. 

common  to  such  agencies.  At  Princeton,  he  visited  the 
graves  of  Presidents  Burr,  Edwards,  Davies,  Finley,  Wither- 
spoon,  and  Smith ;  and  exclaimed,  "  How  are  the  mighty 
fallen ! " 

The  29th  of  November  was  the  season  of  public  Thanks- 
giving in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire,  and  he  had  intended 
to  observe  the  day  in  private.  But  wishing  to  reach 
Washington  before  the  Sabbath,  he  concluded  to  travel,  and 
notice  it  as  he  could  on  the  way.  '  Had  a  good  season,  (he 
says,)  in  the  morning  devotions,  with  reference  to  it,  and  part 
of  the  way  on  my  journey.  I  enjoyed  some  satisfaction  in 
praying  for  my  absent  family,  particularizing  its  members ; 
and  in  trying  to  be  thankful  for  the  mercies  conferred  on  them 
and  me.'  At  Washington,  he  observed  a  day  of  private  thanks- 
giving and  praise.  '  Some  portions  of  it,  (he  says,)  were  very 
precious  to  me.  In  my  devotions,  I  felt  a  sweet  reliance  on 
God  for  direction.  Here  I  came  by  his  direction  ;  and  now  I 
waited  his  will  respecting  what  it  was  my  duty  farther  to  do. 
Think  if  I  was  ever  willing  to  be  under  Divine  guidance  in 
any  case,  I  was  in  this.  Trust  God  will  condescend  to  open 
the  path  of^luty,  and  help  me  to  walk  in  it.' 

He  remained  in  Washington  and  the  immediate  vicinity, 
from  the  first  to  the  nineteenth  of  December,  presenting  his 
object  to  different  persons,  a  number  of  whom  patronized  it 
Among  the  most  liberal  of  these,  was  Hon.  J.  Q.  Adams. 
At  Alexandria  he  spent  a  week,  and  received  a  few  dona- 
tions. 

In  Richmond,  which  he  reached  the  18th  of  January,  he 
visited  a  church,  nearly  finished,  standing  on  the  site  of  the 
theatre  which  was  burnt  not  long  before,  in  which  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  persons  perished.  The  bones  and  the  ashes 
of  the  unhappy  sufferers  had  been  collected  and  buried,  and  a 
monument  erected  over  them  in  the  front  porch  of  the  build- 
ing, giving  to  the  edifice  the  name  of  '  Monument  Church.' 

Here  he  found  an  agent  soliciting  aid  for  'the  College  at 


1822.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  257 

Washington ;'  and  he  passed  on.  In  North  Carolina  the 
Presbyterians  were  engaged  in  endowing  a  Professorship  at 
Princeton.  This  greatly  discouraged  him.  But,  receiving 
some  encouragement  in  the  vicinity  of  Clarksville,  and  com- 
mitting the  matter  to  God,  he  determined  to  proceed. 

At  Raleigh,  where  some  success  attended  his  agency,  he 
was  cheered  by  finding  some  fruit  of  previous  labor  in  a  man 
from  Brunswick,  Me.,  who  said  he  was  first '  brought  to  see 
himself  a  sinner,  by  hearing  him  preach  in  New  Meadows, 
from  the  text,  "  Escape  for  thy  life."  '  Oh,  what  a  mercy 
(he  says)  if  God  should  make  me  an  instrument  of  bringing 
any  souls  to  heaven.' 

Everywhere,  as  he  proceeded,  he  was  treated  with  the 
greatest  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  received  some  private 
and  public  manifestations  of  interest  in  the  object  of  his  agen- 
cy, though  far  less  than  he  could  have  desired.  Early  in 
March,  he  reached  Charleston,  S.  C.  Here,  at  first,  his  suc- 
cess was  so  limited  as  quite  to  dishearten  him.  But  he  looked 
to  his  customary  source  of  guidance  and  help.  '  Awoke  sev- 
eral times  in  the  night,  (he  says,)  and  had  some  distressing 
feelings,  thinking  I  was  so  far  from  home,  and  the  time  was 
so  far  gone,  and  I  was  doing  so  little  for  souls  or  for  the  In- 
stitution. Cried  to  God  to  help  me.  Besought  him  to  beg 
for  me.'  A  few  days  after  this,  he  says  again, '  Besought 
God  almost  to  an  agony,  to  help  me.  Blessed  be  God  for  the 
privilege  of  casting  every  burden  upon  him.  Oh,  what  a 
privilege  it  is  to  have  a  God  to  go  to,  and  ease  the  burdgned 
mind.  Oh,  that  God  would  hear  me,  and  make  me  instru- 
mental of  good  to  some  souls,  that  I  may  meet  them  in  hea- 
ven.' Some  unexpected  success  in  the  object  of  his  agency, 
soon  after  this,  in  a  public  contribution  and  personal  donations, 
Avas  received  with  thanksgiving  to  a  prayer-hearing  God. 

And  here  we  may  remark,  that  during  the  whole  of  this 
tour,  his  anxiety  to  be  an  instrument  of  good  to  souls,  was  not 
less  than  to  succeed  in  the  object  of  his  agency.  This  was 
22* 


258  MEMOIR     OF 


[1822. 


everywhere  manifest,  by  his  embracing  opportunities  to  preach 
and  converse,  and  by  the  fervency  with  which  these  and  other 
religious  duties  were  performed.  "While  at  Charleston,  beside 
preaching  at  other  times,  he  preached  on  board  a  Packet  be- 
longing to  a  line  between  that  place  and  Liverpool ;  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  following  Sabbath,  at  the  Mariner's 
Church. 

In  consequence  of  a  disappointment  in  a  passage  by  water 
homeward,  which  occasioned  a  little  delay,  he  visited  John's 
and  Edisto  Islands,  which  lie  southwest  of  Charleston,  and 
are  formed  by  inland  channels  of  water.  ,This  was,  however, 
kindly  ordered  ;  for,  had  he  left  at  the  time  he  intended,  he 
would  have  failed  of  some  patronage,  on  these  Islands  and  at 
Charleston,  which  was  worth  the  detention.  And,  from  the 
character  of  his  labors  during  the  time,  there  is  reason  to 
hope  that  another  day  will  disclose  the  accomplishment  of 
other  good. 

On  the  tenth  of  April,  he  embarked  for  Baltimore.  After 
entering  Chesapeake  Bay,  they  and  other  vessels  were  wind- 
bound,  in  a  little  harbor,  for  a  number  of  days.  Here  he  at- 
tended the  funeral  of  a  man  who  had  been  killed  by  lightning, 
on  board  the  brig  Olive  of  Wiscasset,  who  was  carried  ashore 
and  buried.  On  the  following  Sabbath,  as  they  were  still 
detained,  he  collected  a  congregation  on  board  that  vessel,  and 
endeavored  to  improve  the  solemn  providence,  by  preaching 
from  Matt.  24 :  44,  "  Be  ye  also  ready." 

In  Baltimore,  where  he  spent  a  few  days,  his  agency  was 
now  attended  with  encouraging  success.  Here,  he  received  a 
line  from  a  Mr.  M.  G.,  whom  he  had  never  seen,  requesting 
an  interview,  and  enclosing  twenty  dollars  as  a  present  to 
himself.  This  was  unexpected ;  and  he  retired,  and  conse- 
crated it  to  the  Lord. 

At  Philadelphia,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly ;  and  there,  and  at  other  places  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, collected  something. 


1822.]  J  O  T  II  A  M     S  E  W  A  L  I. .  259 

On  coming  to  New  York,  he  says,  'Things  look  rather  dis- 
couraging, there  have  been  so  many  calls  lately.  But  com- 
mitted all  1o  God,  and  think  I  exercised  some  faith  that  I 
should  not  he  sent  empty  away.'  Two  or  three  days  after  this, 
he  had  some  unexpected  success.  An  incident  here  occurred, 
which  must  have  been  very  grateful  to  his  feelings.  Coming 
out  of  Dr.  Spring's  church,  (for  whom  he  had  preached  one 
Sabbath  afternoon,)  a  gentleman  and  lady  accosted  him,  who 
said  that  they  had  heard  him  at  E.  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  and  the 
latter  of  whom  hoped  that  his  preaching  was  blessed  to  her 
soul. 

At  Boston,  he  supplied  Dr.  Jenks  again,  at  his  Mission 
House,  and  preached  in  '  The  Refuge,'  an  institution  then  ex- 
isting for  the  reception  of  females  from  houses  of  ill-fame, 
who  wished  to  reform,  and  where  it  was  hoped  that  two  or 
three  had  recently  become  truly  penitent. 

He  reached  home  June  25th,  after  an  absence  of  eight 
months,  and  records  the  Divine  goodness,  and  a  sense  of  his 
obligations. 

The  success  of  this  agency,  though  not  as  great  as  could 
Jiave  been  desired,  was  sufficient  to  justify  the  expense  and 
trouble  of  performing  it.  The  public  mind  had  had  less  op- 
portunity than  since  to  be  awaked  to  the  importance  of 
endowing  such  institutions.  Bangor  Theological  Seminary- 
was  then  a  light  just  struck  up  in  a  remote  and  comparatively 
dark  corner-of  the  Union,  too  feeble  and  flickering  to  be  seen 
afar  or  attract  much  notice.  The  experiment  was  a  doubtful 
one  ;  and  its  expediency  was  questioned  by  not  a  few  good 
men  within  its  own  State.  The  effects  of  his  agency,  how- 
ever, as  a  preparatory  measure,  pointing  the  eyes  of  the  pious 
to  the  object  which  he  placed  before  them,  might  have  been 
more  important  and  valuable  in  various  ways,  than  the  spe- 
cific amount  collected.  It  is  pleasing  also  to  see  that  a  no- 
tice reached  him  in  September,  of  the  appropriation  of  two 


260  MEM  OIK    OF  [1823. 

hundred  dollars  by  a  Ladies'  Society  in  Charleston,  S.  C., 
'  to  the  Maine  Charity  School ; '  which  must  be  added  to 
what  he  had  personally  collected,  as  the  immediate  result  of 
his  agency. 

Near  the  beginning  of  1823,  he  received  a  pressing  re- 
quest from  Rev.  Mr.  Holt,  of  Bloomfield,  to  aid  him  in  a  sea- 
son of  special  interest  among  his  people.  He  went  and  spent 
a  short  time  visiting,  conversing,  praying,  and  preaching, 
with  his  accustomed  activity  and  diligence ;  and  he  appears 
to  have  felt  much  engaged  in  his  own  mind.  We  find  two, 
a  few  weeks  afterwards,  ascribing  their  conversion  to  his  in- 
strumentality. During  the  time,  he  attended  a  Church  Fast 
in  Norridgewock,  and  visited  and  lectured  some  there.  He 
speaks  also  of  a  number  of  instances  of  hope  in  New  Sharon ; 
and  soon  after,  he  mentions  some  seriousness  in  Weld,  where 
he  spent  a  solemn  Sabbath.  A  number  of  his  hearers  were 
in  tears.  A  cloud  of  mercy  seems  to  have  been  hovering 
over  the  region.  A  number  of  children  and  youth  in  the 
south  part  of  Chesterville,  were  awakened  and  brought  to 
embi-ace  the  Saviour.  On  account  of  the  tenderness  of  their 
years,  and  their  liableness  to  be  sympathetically  affected, 
he  feared ;  and  yet  he  hoped  respecting  them.  'A  few  months 
after,  three  of  these  and  one  other,  the  oldest  about  thirteen 
years  of  age  and  the  youngest  eight,  offered  themselves  to  the 
Church,  and  gave  such  evidence  as  would  not  allow  of  their 
being  rejected.  The  youngest  being  referred  to  the  few  years 
she  had  lived  in  the  world,  and  asked  if  she  thought  herself 
the  greatest  sinner  that  ever  was ;  taught  by  the  Spirit,  made 
the  excellent  reply  :  '  I  don't  know  who  could  be  greater,  sir.' 
After  a  suitable  probation,  with  two  others,  they  were  re- 
ceived to  the  Church.  The  one  above  noticed,  afterwards 
became  the  wife  of  a  worthy  and  useful  Minister  ;  *  and  after 
filling  the  important  station  with  great  acceptance  for  a  few 

*  Rev.  S.  Talliot.  of  Alux. 


1823.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  261 

years,  departed  to  her  rest  above,  deservedly  beloved,  and 
deeply  lamented. 

The  night  after  their  reception  to  the  Church,  their  aged 
and  anxious  Pastor  says,  '  Awoke  a  while  after  midnight,  and 
had  my  mind,  much  exercised  about  the  children  we  had  re- 
ceived to.  the  Church.  Laid  awhile,  and  thought  what  a 
wound  it  would  give  to  the  cause  of  religion,  if,  by  and  by, 
they  should  apostatize.  *  Rose  an'd  retired,  and  wrestled 
with  God  for  them,  that,the  Good  Shepherd  would  preserve 
them  from  falling,  and  keep  them  near  to  himself.  Pleaded 
to  an  agony  for  the  conversion  of  souls  among  us.' 

The  following  shows  his  attachment  to  the  Wednesday  eve- 
ning prayer  meeting  he  was  instrumental  in  establishing,  and 
which  we  have  frequently  seen  him  so  careful  to  attend. 
His  horse  and  waggon  were  loaned,  and  did  not  return  as  he 
expected.  He  had  been  hard  at  work,  but  left  off  in  season 
for  the  meeting.  '  I  set  out  on  foot,  (he  says),  but  feeling 
very  tired,  and  not  able  to  walk  so  far  and  back,  I  turned 
aside  into  the  wood,  and  had  a  prayer-meeting  alone ;  and  it 
was  a  good  season.'  How  happy  would  it  be  if  more  of  his 
delight  in  prayer  and  love  to  prayer-meetings,  were  posses- 
sed by  the  Church  generally. 

About  this  time  the  County  Conference  system  began  to  go 
into  operation.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  meeting  of  the  Ministerial  Association,  the  Ken- 
nebeck  Conference  of  Churches  was  formed  at,  Winthrop. 
Previous  arrangements  had  been  made,  so  that  after  adopt- 
ing a  Constitution,  a  regular  meeting  of  the  body  was  held. 
This  occurred  on  the  following  day.  He  preached  from 
Zech.  12:  10,  "And  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  a  spirit  of  grace  and 
supplication  ; "  etc.  The  Report  on  the  State  of  the  Churches 
was  presented  by  Dr.  Gillet,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad- 

*  Their  cases  had  berome  quite  n  matter  of  notoriety. 


262  MEMOIR    OF  [1823. 

ministered.  This  year  also,  we  find  the  first  notice  in  his 
diary  of  the  Concert  of  Prayer  for  Colleges,  which  he  speaks 
of  as  being  attended  to  in  accordance  with  a  notice  given  in 
the  Boston  RecorcTer  some  time  previous,  and  as  being  re- 
quested to  be  observed  with  fasting. 

His  older  children  were  now  scattered  from  him ;  and  this, 
together  with  the  particular  position  of  some  things  in  his 
worldly  affairs,  brought  upon  him  at  this  time,  an  uncommon 
amount  of.  care  and  labor.  He  found  it  needful  to  superin- 
tend the  accomplishment  of  some  thing?,  and  to  do  others 
•with  his  own  hands,  which  he  would  gladly  have  avoided. 
This  he  lamented  as  diverting  him,  in  a  measure,  from  the 
great  work  of  the  Ministry,  and  sometimes  unfitting  him  for 
its  duties.  At  one  time,  after  enumenging  a  number  of 
things,  which,  within  a  certain  time,  lie  had  been  enabled  to 
accomplish,  he  says,  '  But  sometimes,  when  I  reflect  how  the 
important  duties  of  my  office  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  are 
neglected  or  poorly  performed,  particularly  visiting  the  flock  ; 
and  that  I  have  shortly  to  give  an  account  to  God  of  my 
stewardship,  I  groan  under  it,  and  am  read/  to  cry,"  God  be 
merciful  to  me,  a  sinner ! "  Oh,  that  things  may  be  so  ordered 
that  this  weight  of  worldly  cares  and  labors  may  be  so  taken 
off",  that  I  may  fulfil  the  duties  of  my  ministerial  charge1  so 
as,  at  least,  not  to  feel  a  guilty  conscience.  This  is  my 
prayer,  and  I  hope  God  will  answer  it.'  The  following  ex- 
tracts show  whafc  trouble  to  him  arose  sometimes  from  this 
source,  and  what  a  struggle  he  maintained.  Sabbath  morning, 
'  Found  my  mind  vexed  with  worldly  thoughts,  notwithstand- 
ing my  supplications  last  evening.  Cried  to  God  repeatedly 
in  secret,  to  deliver  me,  and  help  me  in  the  services  of  the 
day.  Preached  from  1  John  3  :  10,  and  enjoyed  a  solemn  and 
interesting  season.  In  the  time  of  intermissio'n,  the  world 
beset  me  again.  This  was  grievous,  as  I  thought  I  had  Ijeen 
sweetly  delivered  from  it.  Cried  again  to  God  in  secret,  for 
help,  and  think  I  got  some  nearness  to  him ;  but  had  not  the 


1823.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  263 

life  and  solemnity  which  I  enjoyed  in  the  forenoon.  Felt 
ashamed  of  myself;  and  when  I  came  down  and  sat  at  the 
Communion,  before  the  exercises  commenced,  I  thought  with  • 
myself,  how  can  I  come"  to  the  iable  of  the  Lord  in  such  a 
barren  frame  ?  But  while  meditating,  and  in  the  beginning 
of  the  service,  my  soul  was  sweetly  relieved,  and  my  affec- 
tions flowed  out  toward  my  crucified  Saviour,  and  I  had  a 
very  comfortable  season.'  It  is  not  in  vain  to  pray.  Another 
time,  on  Saturday,  he  had  been  much  pressed  with  worldly 
cares.  '  Tried  to  ask  God  for  assistance  at  sunset,  notwith- 
standing my  worldly  attentions,  but  feared  that  I  had  pre- 
sumed too  far,  and  found  not  much  nearness  in  prayer.'  The 
next  morning,  '  Hope  I  obtained  some  nearness  to  God  in 
prayer,  but  worldly  thoughts  obtruded  in  the  seasons  of  de- 
votion and  at  othdk1  times ;  for  which  I  have  reason  to  be 
humbled.'  He,  however,  enjoyed  the  day  and  its  services 
better  than  he  expected.  Again,  a  few  weeks  after  this,  on 
Saturday,  going  to  fulfil  a  Sabbath  appointment  in  a  neigh 
boring  town,  he  says,  '  Vexed  with  worldly  and  worse 
thoughts  on  the  Avay,  which  I  tried  to  pray  against.  Had 
some  desires  toward  God  at  sunset.  Oh,  to  be  made  holy^' 
The  next  day,  however,  he  had  the  privilege  of  recording, 
'  A  solemn  day.' 

Nor  was  a  tendency  to  worldliness  the  only  inward  evil 
which  he  found  it  necessary  to  combat.  Sinful  passions  were 
not  yet  entirely  subdued.  A  disposition  which  was  liable  to 
feel  the  irritating  effects  of  adverse  occurrences,  was  not  soft- 
ened into  entire  and  uniform  sweetness.  And  if  the  record 
introduced  below,  shows  us  that,  like  Paul  when  probably 
older  in  the  Ministry  than  he  was  at  this  time,  he  found  not 
himself  to  have  attained  or  to  have  become  perfect ;  it  shows 
that,  like  him,  he  was  following  after,  if  he  might  apprehend 
that  for  which  he  was  apprehended  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  was 
pressing  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.*  It  should  also  be  instructive  as 
*  Phil  r,:  i-i*i4. 


264  MEMOIR     OF  '   [1823. 

exhibiting  the  proper  and  best  means  of  treating  and  over- 
coming an  evil  of  the  kind.  His  wife  had  found  a  little  fault 
one  morning  for  an  instance  of  carelessness  which  occasioned 
her  some  trouble.  He  says,  '  My  spirits  were  discomposed, 
so  that  I  found  it  difficult  to  get  into  a  proper  frame  for  fam- 
ily devotions.  It  brotfght  to  my  recollection  the  lines : 

"  Our  lives  through  various  scenes  are  drawn. 
And  vexed  with  trifliny  cares.'1 

Felt  ashamed  of  myself,  and  retired  to  try  to  humble  my- 
self before  God.'  That  he  sought  help  against  .this  unhappy 
propensfty,  the  reader  will  of  course  understand. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  some  special  religious  interest 
existed  in  Wilton.  Cases  of  anxiety  occurred,  and  a  few,  of 
hope ;  and,  in  addition  to  other  labors  performed  there,  he 
held  a  number  of  inquiry  meetings.  After  an  absence  of  a 
few  months  at  a  call  of  duty  (which  will  soon  be  laid  before 
the  reader),  he  attended  a  conference  there,  of  which  he  says, 
'  Felt  grieved  that  young  converts  were  urged  to  '  obetf  the 
Lord;''*  not  because  I  believed  it  wrong  that  they  should 
obey  the  Lordy  or  be  urged  to  it ;  but  because  the  will  of  the 
Lord  was  to  be  looked  for  in  immediate  impressions  instead 

of  the  Bible.  Talked  some  witR  Elder  B about  it,  after 

meeting.  I  think  there  is  great  danger  of  persons  under 
convictions  getting  comfort  by  surmounting  the  difficulty  and 
speaking  in  meeting,  and  thinking  they  have  done  what  the 
Lord  would  have  them,  and  so  resting  upon  their  own  doings.' 
There  is  painful  reason  to  fear  that  multitudes  are  ruined  in 
this  way.  Under  awakenings,  they  are  urged  to  '  take  up 
the  cross '  and  speak,  and  told  that  that  is  the  way  to  obtain 
comfort  and  get  into  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel.  They  obey ; 
and  the  relief  afforded  to  their  feelings  is  mistaken  for  con- 
version. Like  a  meteor,  they  blaze  for  a  moment,  the  ex- 

*  Rise  and  speak. 


JO  THAW    SfcWALL.  265 

citement  passes  by,  they  lay  aside  religious  duties,  and  live 
essentially  as  before,  but  cleave  to  their  hope,  and  live  and 
die  in  their  sins.  Too  much  importance  cannot  be  attached 
to  the  Saviour's  declaration,  "  Either  make  the  tree  good, 
and  his  fruit  good,  or  else  make  the  tree  corrupt  and  his  fruit 
corrupt :  for  the  tree  is  known  by  his  fruit." 

The  expediency  or  utility  of  keeping  a  diary,  especially  of 
particularly  recording  one's  religious  exercises,  has  been 
questioned.  It  has  been  said  that  '  no  one  can  keep  a  diary 
without  occasionally  glancing  out  of  his  window'  —  i.  e.,  to 
see  who  will  be  likely  to  look  at  him.  Others,  however,  — 
and  not  without  some  ground,  —  have  recommended  the  ex- 
ercise as  a  means  of  intellectual  as  well  as  moral  culture. 
To  the  subject  of  this  narrative,  it  was  manifestly  beneficial. 
Among  other  illustrations  of  this,  take  the  following :  It  is 
given,  too,  on  account  of  a  reference  to  a  historical  fact. 
'  Looked  over  my  diary,  to  find  the  time  of  my  conversion  in 
1783 ;  and,  by  examining  dates,  I  think  it  must  have  been 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  March,  in  that  year,  on  the  Sabbath 
at  a  Society  meeting  at  Col.  Dummer  Sewall's,  in  Bath. 
Then  it  pleased  God  to  give  the  last  stroke  to  my  refuges  of 
lies,  and  bring  me  to  submit,  without  reserve,  to  him,  as  a 
Sovereign  God.  A  few  days  afterward,  I  got  some  evidence 
in  a  joyful  view  of  Christ  as  "  the  end  of  the  law  for  right- 
eousness." Now  forty  years  have  elapsed ;  and  what  pro- 
gress have  I  made  in  the  Christian  race  ?  After  ascertaining 
that  fact,  I  looked  over  the  record  of  some  of  my  feelings 
about  the  time  of  my  marriage,  and  while  I  was  at  work  for 
Deacon  Parker,  of  Georgetown.  This  brought  up  many 
refreshing  seasons  which  I  had  with  him,  and  in  hearing  Mr. 
Emerson  preach,  etc. :  and  the  thought  that  they,  and  many 
others,  are  now  in  eternity,  brought  a  gloomy  feeling  over  my 
mind  for  a  time.  By  the  review,  it  seemed  as  if  I  lived 
much  nearer  to  God  then  than  I  do  now.  This  gave  rise  to 
23 


266  MEMOIKOF  [1824. 

humiliating  reflections,  and  brought  me  afresh  to  the  throne 
of  mercy  for  quickening  grace.' 

We  give  occasionally  the  use  which  he  made  of  a  text  in 
preaching.  At  a  lecture  one  Sabbath  evening,  after  having 
had  a  very  solemn  day,  he  used  the  address  of  Christ  to  Ju- 
das, "  Friend,  wherefore  art  thou  come  ?  "  to  inquire  by  what 
motives  persons  ought  not,  and  by  what  they  ought,  to  be  ac- 
tuated in  attending  upon  the  worship  of  God. 

Toward  the  close  of  January,  1824,  he  left  on  another 
agency  for  the  '  Maine  Charity  School.'  The  effort  now  was 
to  endow  a  professorship  by  raising  a  subscription  of  twelve 
thousand  dollars.  The  field  assigned  him,  was  the  region 
east  of  the  Penobscot  river.  In  this,  it  was  wished  to  raise 
one-third  of  the  sum.  He  entered  it  the  twenty-seventh  of 
January,  and  continued  in  it  till  the  thirteenth  of  April.  He 
visited  all  the  principal  towns  on  the  seaboard,  including  Deer 
Isle,  and  going  as  high  up  the  St.  Croix  as  Calais.  In  some 
towns,  his  object  was  liberally  patronized.  The  two  which 
raised  the  largest  sums  were  Machias  and  Bluehill.  In  the 
former,  (including  what  is  now  four  towns,)  were  pledged 
somewhat  more  than  five  hundred  and  thirty  dollars  ;  and  in 
the  latter,  above  five  hundred  and  sixty.  At  some  points,  he 
fpund  a  disheartening  reluctance ;  and  when  he  had  asked  in 
vain  of  men,  would  go  and  ask  of  God.  His  agency  was,  on 
the  whole,  successful.  Of  the  four  thousand  dollars,  he  secured 
three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-nine,  and  a  lot  of 
land  on  condition  of  paying  the  taxes  then  due.  Could  he 
have  devoted  a  little  more  time,  and  visited  a  few  other  points 
in  his  field,  the  amount  desired  would  probably  have  been 
secured,  aside  from  the  land. 

Connected  with  the  duties  of  his  agency,  was  his  usual  un- 
remitting attention  to  the  welfare  of  souls.  Lecturing,  con- 
versing, praying,  calling  upon  the  sick  and  the  afflicted,  and 
looking  after  the  state  of  the  churches,  filled  up  the  nooks  and 


1824]  .TOTHAM     SF,  WALL.  267 

corners  of  time  not  requisite  to  be  devoted  to  the  object  of 
his  journey.  We  find  him,  during  the  exercises  of  the  Sab- 
bath, longing  for  the  salvation  of  souls  ;  on  Monday,  convers- 
ing with  the  numerous  circle  of  children  where  he  had  spent 
the  night,  and  feeling  much  for  their  souls  in  family  worship ; 
and  preaching  twice  during  the  day  as  he  advanced.  After 
enjoying  much  freedom  and  solemnity  in  these  lectures,  wo 
hear  him  saying :  <  L^felt  last  evening,  that  the  seasons  of  the 
afternoon  and  evening  were  the  most  like  old  times,  when  the 
Spirit  of  God  attended  my  preaching,  of  any  thing  I  have 
felt  for  a  long  time.  Felt  very  happy  in  mind  ;  and  thought, 
If  such  seasons  are  peculiar  to  travelling  about,  I  should  like 
to  travel  all  the  time.'  This  was  at  Dennysville,  where  the 
reader  will  recollect  that  he  enjoyed  special  manifestations 
of  the  Divine  presence  and  blessing  some  twenty  years  before. 
A  few  days  previous  to  this,  he  put  up  in  a  family  in  Calais, 
the  lady  of  which  regarded  him  as  the  means  of  her  conver- 
sion about  the  time  just  referred  to.  Of  this,  he  says  :  'Oh, 
what  a  mercy,  if  I  should  have  one  for  the  crown  of  my 
rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus  !  Oh,  to  be  instru- 
mental of  more  conversions, —  to  be  fruitful  in  old  age  ! ' 

At  Eastport,  he  found  the.  Congregational  Church  in  a  low 
state.  In  consequence  of  deaths  or  removals,  only  two  male 
members  remained.  With  these,  he  gathered  a  few  other 
Congregational  professors  in  the  place,  and  held  a  conference 
meeting ;  and  on  the  Sabbath,  preached  and  administered  to 
them  the  Lord's  Supper. 

To  the  chapter  of  incidents  during  this  journey,  it  may  not 
be  amiss  to  add,  that  on  the  morning  of  April  13th,  before  he 
arose,  the  hearing  of  his  left  ear,  which  had  been  almost  en- 
tirely suppressed  since  the  previous  July,  was^suddenly 
restored. 

The  friends  of  seamen  in  Portland,  being  desirous  to  do 
something  for  the  moral  and  religious  benefit  of  that  long- 
neglected  class,  had  applied  to  him  to  come  and  labor  among 


268  MEMOIR     OF  [1824. 

them  there  for  the  season.  After  a  brief  stay  at  home,  he 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  this  new  sphere  of  action  on  the 
sixteenth  of  May.  A  loft  had  been  fitted  up  on  Ingraham's 
wharf,  where  he  was  to  preach.  He  had  been  among  the 
earliest  Congregational  missionaries  in  his  native  State,  and 
now  he  became  the  first  Seamen's  Preacher  in  it.  The  date 
above  specified  designates  the  first  Sabbath  of  these  labors. 
The  evening  previous,  he  says, '  Felt  that  I  was  in  a  new 
sphere,  and  knew  not  how  to  demean  myself.  Besought  God 
to  direct,  assist,  and  bless  me  in  this  new  department  of  labor 
to  which  he  had  called  me.'  His  introduction  to  his  new 
congregation  was  in  a  discourse  from  Ps.  95  :  5,  6,  "  The  sea 
is  his,  and  he  made  it ;  and  his  hands  formed  the  dry  land. 
O,  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow  down ;  let  us  kneel  before 
the  Lord  our  Maker."  More  attended  than  he  expected ; 
and  he  enjoyed  a  solemn  season.  In  the  afternoon,  he 
preached  from  Isa.  60 :  5,  "  Then  thou  shalt  see,  and  flow 
together,  and  thy  heart  shall  be  enlarged ;  because  the  abun- 
dance of  the  sea  shall  be  converted  unto  thee." 

Before  complying  with  the  request  to  enter  this  important 
field,  he  entreated  direction  from  God,  and  besought,  him  '  to 
send  a  Habeus  Corpus  and  stop  him,  if  it  was  wrong  for  him 
to  go  ;  but  if  it  was  right,  that  his  presence  might  go  with 
him.'  And  thrice  while  here,  he  obtained  the  key  of  the  loft, 
and  went  in  and  turned  it  upon  himself,  and  spent  from  six  to 
nine  hours  each  day  in  fasting  and  prayer.  The  record  of 
one  of  these  we  will  give  :  '  Found  much  nearness  to  God  in 
pouring  out  my  soul  before  him  in  confessions  of  sin  and  im- 
ploring pardon.  Asked  it  outright  for  all,  at  one  sweeping 
stroke,  without  the  least  reference  to  anything  I  had  done  or 
hoped  to  do  ;  for  I  had  nothing  to  bring,  being  a  poor  bankrupt 
sinner.  Asked  wholly  on  account  of  the  all-atoning  blood  of 
Christ.  Besought  sanctification  and  strength  against  inbred 
corruptions,  —  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  deny  myself,  and  get 
the  mastery  over  all  my  spiritual  foes,  etc.  Enjoyed  much 


1824.]  JOTHAM     SEW  A  LI..  269 

freedom,  and  sent  up  ardent  cries  to  God  for  my  wife  and 
children,  —  that  those  who  profess  religion  may  be  spiritual 
and  heavenly-minded ;  that  none  of  them  may  apostatize ; 
that  they  may  train  up  their  children  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  may  inherit  all  the  blessings  of 
the  covenant  of  grace  ;  and  that  God  will  bestow  his  grace 
upon  those  who  do  not  profess,  and  fit  them  for  his  kingdom. 
Thinking  of  the  children  who  have  been  taken  from  me  by 
death,  the1  thought  struck  me  very  forcibly,  May  be  I  shall 
meet  them  all  in  heaven,  and  that  their  infant  voices  will  for- 
ever mingle  with  mine,  and  all  the  holy  throng,  in  praising 
God  to  all  eternity.  The  thought  of  its  being  possible  kin- 
dled up  indescribable  feelhigs  in  my  soul  for  a  while.  O, 
what  will  heaven  be  to  the  redeemed  !  Closed  with  thanks- 
giving.' 

His  congregation  embraced  some  from  families  in  the  place, 
as  every  meeting  for  seamen  should.  The  attendance  appears 
to  have  been  in  general  good,  and  sometimes  full.  Those 
who  preach  to  seamen,  almost  literally  cast  their  bread  upon 
the  water.  The  changing  nature  of  their  congregations  pre- 
vents them,  in  great  measure,  from  witnessing  the  immediate 
effects  of  their  labor.  They  sow  the  seed,  and  have  in  gen- 
eral to  await  the  developments  of  a  future  day  to  know 
whether  it  springs  or  fails.  A  few  cases  of  awakening  occur- 
red during  the  season  ;  but  he  has  recorded  only  one  instance 
of  hope.  Possibly,  a  record  of  conversions  might  have  been 
made  by  Him  whose  eye  traces  the  effects  produced  by  his 
own.  institutions.  Angels  might  have  looked  upon  it,  and 
rejoiced.  But  the  agents  employed  in  the  work  enjoyed  not 
the  high  privilege.  Special  religious  interest  appears  to  have 
existed  in  the  place,  (now  city ; )  and  on  one  occasion,  we 
find  him  conversing  with  a  number  of  anxious  youth,  who 
convened  for  the  purpose. 

His  active  habits  would  leaft  us  to  anticipate  that  his  Sab- 
bath labor*  would  not  be  confined  to  two  services  in  the  loft. 


270  MEMOIR     OF  [1824. 

Uniformly  he  had  a  third  meeting,  and  sometimes  a  fourth. 
He  gave  a  number  of  Sabbatli  evening  lectures  in  the  Third 
Meeting-house ;  a  few  in  Cape  Elizabeth,  Westbrook,  and 
Falmouth;  but  most  in  the  Second  Parish  Church.  In  the 
latter,  owing  probably  to  a  special  interest  and  Dr.  Payson's 
needing  assistance,  he  preached  eleven  times.  More  than 
once  he  had  a  third  service  at  Westbrook,  and  preached  again 
in  the  city  in  the  evening.  On  the  morning  after  one  of  these 
Sabbaths,  he  says,  '  How  do  I  know  that  my  motives  are  right 
in  trying  to  do  so  much  ?  And  if  they  are  wrong,  all  is,  one 
way  or  other,  to  gratify  self.  How  many  ways  I  may  be 
guilty  of  not  practising  self-denial.  Oh,  to  be  purified  !  So  I 
often  preach  and  wish  ;  but  if  self-denial  does  not  follow,  what 
sincerity  is  there  in  my  prayers  ? '  During  the  latter  part 
of  the  season,  his  third  service  was  in  the  almshouse.  He 
also  gave  a  few  weekly  lectures  there,  and  at  various  other 
places  in  the  city  and  neighborhood. 

Excepting  three  Sabbaths  in  the  summer,  and  two  in  the 
autumn,  (and  for  these,  or  a  part  of  them,  he  hired  a  supply,) 
he  continued  his  labors  for  seamen  to  the  middle  of  December. 
During  the  time,  he  attended  a  number  of  County  Confer- 
ences. At  one  of  these  at  Kennebunk-port,  he  tarried  with  a 

Mr.  J ,  who,  with  his  wife,  ascribed  their  conversion  to  a 

sermon  he  preached  some  years  before.  On  the  fifteenth  of 
September,  he  attended  the  ordination  of  his  son-in-law, 
Chapman,  at  Bristol ;  and  on  the  third  of  November,  that  of 
the  writer  at  New  Castle.  To  the  former  he  gave  the  charge  ; 
and  on  the  latter  he  laid  the  consecrating  hand. 

After  closing  his  labors  at  Portland,  by  urgent  request  he 
spent  a  few  days  with  Rev.  Mr.  Walker  of  Paris,  who  was 
enjoying  a  revival  among  his  people. 

A  quotation  or  two  from  his  diary  will  close  our  sketch 
for  the  year.  At  Portland, '  Such  a  sense  of  my  sinfulness 
caim-1  upon  me,  that  I  felt  uiTfit  for  any  duty.  Thought  of 
not  going  to  the  meeting  at  the  Conference  Room  ;  but  finally 


1825.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  271 

went.  Being  requested  to  take  a  part,  I  read  the  seventh  of 
Rom.,  and  commented,  and  prayed.  Enjoyed  great  freedom. 
How  inexpressibly  kind  is  our  gracious  God !  Oh,  that  his 
kindness  may  not  make  me  think  less  of  my  sin,  but  more  of 
its  odiousness.'  Sabbath,  '  Think  the  seasons  of  worship  this 
morning  were  in  a  measure  comfortable,  except  one  season 
of  wandering  thoughts  in  the  time  of  prayer,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  painful  emotions.  Oh,  this  body  of  death  !  shall  I 
ever  be  delivered  ? '  The  following  is  a  little  amusing ;  but 
it  shows  his  propensity  to  seize  upon  incidents,  and  the  readi- 
ness with  which  he  improved  them.  It  occurred  after  he 
returned  home.  '  Attended  prayer-meeting  at  the  school- 
house.  We  had  but  one  candle.  I  read  the  hymn, 

"  How  heavy  is  the  night 
That  hangs  upon  our  eyes.' 

and  was  just  about  to  sing,  when,  by  an  inadvertent  crowding 
up  of  the  shover  of  the  candlestick  which  was  in  my  hand, 
the  candle  fell  on  the  floor  and  was  put  out.  The  fire  having 
gone  out  in  the  stove,  it  could  not  be  lighted.  The  incident 
gave  rise  to  a  number  of  remarks,  and  I  closed  with  prayer, 
in  literal  darkness,  but  I  trust  not  altogether  in  spiritual ;  and 
my  prayer  was,  0,  that  the  light  of  Israel  in  this  place  may 
not  be  put  out  in  total  darkness  ! ' 

Toward  the  close  of  1824,  one  case  of  hopeful  conversion 
occurred.  At  the  commencement  of  1825,  some  special  at- 
tention existed ;  and  the  first  day  of  the  year  was  observed 
as  a  season  of  social  fasting  and  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit.  The  following  extract  exhibits  his  feelings  under 
these  circumstances :  '  In  secret,  last  evening  and  this  morn- 
ing, I  besought  God  to  be  made  useful  in  thi*  reformation, 
though  I  am  a  poor,  old,  worn-out,  unworthy  thing  —  that  God 
would  be  gracious,  and  glorify  himself,  and  plead  the  cause  of 
his  own  truth.'  He  held  a  number  of  inquiry  meetings. 
Several  were  anxious ;  but  the  impressions  of  most  seem  to 


272  MEMOIR     OF  [1825. 

have  subsided.  One  whose  hope  had  been  revived,  soon  after 
united  with  another  denomination  ;  and  an  entrance  which  he 
made  on  the  occasion,  while  it  shows  his  humility,  exhibits 
also  the  kindness  of  his  feelings  towards  other  Christian  sects. 
'  In  secret  besought  God  to  give  us  some  additions  to  our 
church,  if  it  was  not  till  after  the  other  orders  were  served — 
if  it  was  only  the  gleanings  of  the  vintage.'  Of  this  request 
he  afterwards  thought  on  receiving  two  to  the  little  church  of 
which  he  was  pastor.  A  few  weeks  onward,  four  more  were 
added. 

He  had  been  again  requested  to  labor  among  seamen,  at 
Portland,  for  the  season.  Before  leaving  home  he  observed 
a  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  A  loose  slip  of  paper, 
which  happens  to  remain  in  his  diary,  gives  us  the  plan  of  the 
exercises  of  the  day  which  he  sketched  the  day  previous,  and 
doubtless  followed.  '  Confess  original  sin,  as  the  fountain  and 
support  of  all  actual ;  seek  pardou  for  all,  through  the  all- 
atoning  righteousness  of  Christ ;  confess  imperfections  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  beg  pardon;  devote  myself,  soul 
and  body,  to  God  in  this  work,  and  implore  success  ;  Divine 
presence  and  blessing  to  go  with  me  to  Portland,  or,  that  my 
going  may  be  prevented ;  Church  in  this  place,  its  discipline, 
purity,  —  a  blessing  on  the  means  it  enjoys,  while  I  am  ab- 
sent ;  Church  generally ;  various  charitable  institutions  for 
her  benefit ;  Colleges,  and  seminaries  of  learning  ;  Political 
interests  of  this  country,  and  this  State  in  particular ;  My 
family,  its  temporal  and  spiritual  interests.'  Of  the  manner 
in  which  he  enjoyed  the  day,  he  says,  '  I  think  God  helped 
me  to  plead  with  importunity  for  many  things.  Trust  he 
heard,  and  will  be  gracious.  Felt  a  quiet  resting  upon  his 
Omnipotent  arm.' 

To  supply  his  place  at  Chesterville,  the  ministrations  of 
Mr.  Underwood,  who  was  preaching  at  New  Sharon,  were 
secured  for  a  portion  of  the  time.  He  resumed  his  labors 
among  seamen  in  Portland  on  the  8th  of  May.  He  preached 


1825.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  273 

in  the  Loft  twice  each  Sabbath,  and  generally  gave  a  lecture 
at  the  Almshouse  for  a  third  service.  In  a  few  instances  he 
did  more.  In  one  instance  we  find  him  preaching  at  the  Loft, 
then  at  the  Almshouse,  and  then  at  the  third  parish  meeting- 
house. At  another,  we  find  him  attending  a  funeral  imme- 
diately after  his  usual  services  at  the  Loft ;  then  preaching 
at  the  Almshouse ;  then  giving  a  lecture  at  upper  Presump- 
scot  bridge  in  Falmouth ;  and  then  riding  into  the  city  the 
next  morning  before  breakfast.  Twice  he  preached  at  Fort 
Burrows,  on  Sabbath  morning,  before  his  usual  services  at  the 
Loft,  and  then  at  the  Almshouse  afterward ;  and  on  the  latter 
of  these  Sabbaths  he  went  from  the  Almshouse  to  Woodford's 
corner  in  Westbrook,  and  gave  a  lecture,  —  making  five  ser- 
mons, with  all  the  accompanying  devotional  exercises  in  one 
day ;  —  and  he  doubtless  sung  every  time  singing  was  per- 
formed. At  noon,  on  this  day,  he  also  visited  and  prayed 
with  a  sick  friend. 

During  most  of  this  season,  he  gave  a  week-day  lecture  at 
the  Almshouse  ;  and,  for  a  considerable  portion  of  it,  another 
to  the  colored  people.  As  was  usual,  also,  he  preached  vari- 
ous lectures  in  the  neighboring  towns,  and  gave  occasional  aid 
to  the  ministers  in  the  city. 

During  this  season,  and  the  last,  much  sickness  appears  to 
have  prevailed  in  Portland.  Those  who  were  thus  afflicted 
enjoyed  his  sympathies,  and  shared  largely  in  his  attentions. 
Frequently  he  was  at  their  bed-sides  with  his  counsels  and 
his  prayers  ;  and  for  some  who  were  needy,  he  interested  him- 
self in  procuring  the  little  comforts  which  their  circumstances 
required.  In  these  visits  he  was  tender  and  discreet  —  faith- 
ful on  the  one  hand,  and  kind  and  soothing  on  the  other ;  not 
wearying  the  sick  with  tedious  calls,  or  long  and  loud  conver- 
sations, or  prayers.  In  how  many  instances  these  were  angel- 
visits,  we  know  not ;  in  one,  at  least,  this  appears  to  have 
been  the  case.  The  facts  we  have  from  the  person  concerned, 
a  gentleman  of  high  standing  in  the  legal  profession.  He 


274  MEMOIR    OF  [1825. 

had  been  a  professor  of  religion  for  some  years  ;  but  not  in 
such  an  active  exercise  of  the  Christian  graces  as  to  feel  in 
readiness  when  he  saw  the  grim  messenger  approaching.  He 
had  been  sick  some  time,  and  his  life  hung  in  doubt.  For 
about  three  days  and  nights  in  succession  he  had  enjoyed  no 
sleep,  and  was  tossing  about  in  wildness  and  delirium.  He 
fancied,  that  with  a  multitude  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
he  had  embarked  on  board  a  large  ship  ;  that  a  terrible  tem- 
pest had  broken  the  vessel  to  pieces  ;  that  himself,  the  only 
survivor,  pelted  by  a  pitiless  storm,  and  driven  by  the  furious 
blast,  was  clinging  with  desperation  to  a  single  plank,  expecting 
every  moment  to  be  his  last.  In  this  condition,  all  his  previ- 
ous actions,  words,  and  thoughts  seemed  to  pass  in  review  be- 
fore him  ;  and  he  felt  unprepared  for  his  final  account.  Just 
at  this  juncture,  our  missionary  took  his  seat  by  his  side,  and 
asked  him  if  he  rested  his  hope  of  salvation  on  Jesus  Christ, 
and  on  him  alone.  The  question  touched  a  chord  which 
needed  to  be  struck.  It  called  his  agitated  thoughts  to  the 
sinner's  only  resting  place  ;  and  after  a  short  pause,  he  gave, 
substantially,  an  affirmative  reply.  He  seemed  instantly  re- 
moved from  his  peril,  and,  with  a  sense  of  forgiveness  inex- 
pressibly sweet,  to  stand  in  the  presence  of  the  Saviour, 
redeemed  from  sin  and  purified  by  his  blood.  He  was  uncon- 
scious of  the  visit,  and  supposed  that  the  question  was  put  to 
him  from  heaven ;  and  this  mistake  he  would  probably  have 
continued  to  cherish,  if  his  wife,  who  was  present  and  remem- 
bered the  question,  had  not  given  him  afterward  the  fact  for 
the  fancy.  In  a  few  moments  he  fell  into  a  quiet  sleep,  and 
from  that  hour  began  to  amend ;  and  he  has  ever  since  re- 
garded that  visit  as  the  means  of  saving  his  life.  It  was  also 
blessed  as  a  means  of  conferring  an  important  spiritual  bene- 
fit ;  for  he  rose  from  that  sickness  jvitli  an  elevation  of  comfort 
and  happiness  in  religion  which  he  retained  for  months  and 
years  afterward,  —  and  the  savor  of  it  will  probably  never  be 
lost  from  his  character.  The  power  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 


1825.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  275 

and  even  of  his  very  name,  to  soothe  the  reveries  of  delirium, 
is  probably  yet  to  be  learned  :  and  the  above  fact  should  cor- 
rect the  unhappy  mistake,  that  the  messengers  of  reconcilia- 
tion are  never  to  be  admitted  to  the  presence  of  those  in  whom 
sickness  has  overpowered  reason.  From  judicious  ministra- 
tions of  religion  nothing  is  to  be  feared,  and  much  is  to  be 
hoped. 

The  following  incident  shows  how  deeply  he  sometimes  felt 
for  the  sick.  The  person  had  been  ill  for  many  months ; 
sometimes  comfortable ;  at  others,  more  ill.  At  first  he  ap- 
peared thoughtless  about  his  soul ;  at  length  he  became  serious 
and  anxious.  The  subject  of  this  narrative  had  often  con- 
versed and  prayed  with  him,  and  furnished  him  with  appro- 
priate tracts.  Calling  one  day,  and  finding  him  worse,  he 
says :  '  I  asked  him  how  it  was  with  his  soul.  He  shook  his 
head,  and,  weeping,  said, '  I  don't  know,'  and  seemed  to  be 
in  great  distress.  I  felt  for  him  exceedingly,  and  in  prayer 
had  a  weeping  time.  Oh,  that  God  would  show  him  mercy  1 
Returned  to  my  lodgings,  and  spent  some  time  pleading  for 
him  in  my  chamber.' 

He  had  often,  as  he  saw  years  rolling  by,  entreated  to  be 
made  an  instrument  of  the  conversion  of  sinners.  Perhaps 
it  was  in  answer  to  these  requests,  that  the  following  occurred. 
Rev.  George  Campbell,  who  was  laboring  at  Berwick,  in  the 
midst  of  an  interesting  revival,  requested  an  exchange  of 
desks  and  labors  for  some  twelve  days.  With  a  measure  of 
reluctance,  he  consented.  There  he  preached  to  crowded  and 
solemn  assemblies  on  the  Sabbath  and  on  week  days ;  and 
almost  constantly  occupied  himself,  when  out  of  the  desk,  in 
visiting,  conversation,  and  prayer.  And  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  his  experience,  and  the  fervency  of  his  piety  and  his 
supplications,  rendered  him  highly  useful  at  this  interest- 
ing time.  While  there,  he  ran  over  to  Somersworth  and 
Dover,  N.  H.,  in  the  former  of  which  places,  some  special  at- 
tention existed." 


276  MEMOIR     OF  [1825. 

He  had  little  more  than  returned  from  Berwick,  \vheu 
heavy  tidings  reached  him.  On  the  nineteenth  of  Septem- 
ber, he  received  intelligence  of  the  sudden  death  of  his 
daughter  Mary,  wife  of  Rev.  N.  Chapman,  of  Bristol,  which 
occurred  two  days  previous ;  with  a  request  to  hasten  to  her 
funeral.  The  suddenness  of  the  event,  and  the  circumstan- 
ces under  which  it  occurred,  rendered  it  peculiarly  trying  to 
his  feelings.  He  made  his  arrangements  to  leave,  and  retired 
about  eleven  o'clock  ;  but  the  painful  event  deprived  him  en- 
tirely of  sleep.  The  next  evening  found  him  shedding  the 
tears  of  parental  grief  over  the  remains  of  his  much  loved 
daughter.  The  day  following,  she  was  buried.  His  feelings 
on  the  occasion,  he  thus  expresses  :  '  Saw  the  remains  of  dear 
Mary  placed  in  the  grave  beside  her  little  Thurston.*  Thus 
has  closed  the  earthly  course  of  another  of  my  dear  children. 
God  is  righteous.  Since  she  entertained  a  hope,  she  has  ex- 
emplified the  reality  of  her  religion  ;  and  since  she  has  been 
a  minister's  wife,  she  has  manifestly  grown  in  grace,  and  ap- 
peared more  and  more  fitted  for  the  station  in  which  God  had 
placed  her.  Peace,  my  daughter,  to  thy  sleeping  dust,  and 
peace  to  thy  little  babes,  till  Christ  recalls  his  friends  from 
the  grave ! '  Every  word  of  the  above  brief  tribute  to  her 
memory,  was  due  ;  and  with  the  strictest  propriety  he  could 
say,  '  Oh,  that  all  my  children  would  exhibit  as  good  evidence 
of  grace  as  dear  Mary  has.  Then  I  should  have  no  doubt 
of  their  meeting  her  in  glory.'  The  next  day  he  says,  '  After 
a  weeping  time  in  morning  devotions,  Mr.  C.  and  I  took  a 
walk  to  her  grave,  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  forenoon  convers- 
ing about  her,  sometimes  mourning  her  early  death,  and  some- 
times rejoicing  that  she  had  done  so  much  for  God  in  her 
short  life,  and  had  so  soon  got  home.'  The  next  Sabbath,  he 
supplied  his  afflicted  son-in-law ;  and  adapted  the  forenoon 


*  A  lovely  son  of  fourteen  months,  whom  she  lost  nearly  a  year 
before. 


1825.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  277 

discourse  to  the  melancholy  occurrence.  The  occasion  stirred 
up  the  remembrance,  and  prompted  the  effusion :  '  How  often 
has  she  joined  her  sweet  voice  with  ours  in  family,  social,  and 
public  worship  ;  now  she  is  praising  in  more  exalted  strains. 
Keep  thy  station,  happy  spirit,  among  the  blessed !  We 
would  not  wish  thee  back  again  in  this  world  of  trouble,  sin, 
and  darkness.  Stay  in  the  blest  mansions  above,  till  we  join 
thy  company,  which  we  hope  to  do  through  the  abundant 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ.'  He  then  returned  to  his  labors  in 
Portland. 

The  reader  perhaps  may  wonder  why,  neither  the  last 
season  nor  this,  he  finds  him  holding  prayer  meetings  with 
seamen.  The  difficulty  appears  to  have  been  the  want  of  a 
suitable  place.  For  some  unexplained  reason  (perhaps  for 
want  of  the  payment  of  sufficient  rent),  he  was  not  able  to 
obtain  the  use  of  the  Loft  for  this  purpose,  till  the  8th  of 
the  present  October.  We  then  find  the  following  entry  in  his 
diary :  <  Got  leave  to  hold  prayer  meetings  in  the  Bethel 
Loft,  which  is  what  I  have  been  wanting  all  along  from  the 
first.'  He  then  established  such  a  meeting,  and  maintained 
it,  till  his  labors  here  closed ;  which  was  on  the  twentieth  of 
November.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  he  took  a  solemn 
leave  of  his  congregation,  in  a  discourse  from  the  words,  "  And 
the  sea  gave  up  the  dead  which  were  in  it ;  and  death  and 
hell  delivered  up  the  dead  which  were  in  them ;  and  they 
were  judged  every  man  according  to  their  works."  He  did 
the  same  at  the  Almshouse,  from  1  Cor.  6:  9,  10,  "  Know  ye 
not  that  the  unrighteous  shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of 
God  ?  "  etc.  He  then  preached  in  the  evening,  at  the  Third 
Parish  Meeting-house,  from  the  text,  "  He  hath  done  all 
things  well."  In  this,  he  probably  had  reference  to  the  fact 
that  a  church  had  been  organized  to  worship  in  that  house, 
instead  of  the  one  which  he  had  once  gathered  there  ;  and  that, 
within  a  fortnight  previous,  he  had  assisted  in  placing  a  Pas- 

24 


278  MEMOIR     OF  ("1825. 

tor  over  it,*  with  the  prospect  of  its  permanently  enjoying 
the  preaching  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

*  Rev.  Charles  Jenkins,  ordained  Nov.  9th.  The  church  which  he 
gathered  here  in  1807,  being  soon  deprived  of  its  Pastor,  Rev.  N.  S.  S. 
Beeman,  by  dismission  on  account  of  ill-health,  maintained  its  exist- 
ence for  a  time,  and  then  united  with  the  second. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

LABORS    AT    MACHIAS   AND    SEARSPORT    IN   REVIVALS. AT 

FRANCONIA,  N.  H. IN    DIFFERENT   REVIVALS. HIS   RE- 
MAINING   CHILDREN    CONVERTED. 

HE  had  scarcely  reached  home,  when  he  was  called  away 
in  another  direction.  A  powerful  revival  of  religion  existed 
in  Machias  and  the  immediate  neighborhood,  and  help  was 
greatly  needed.  A  call  in  providence,  which  from  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case  was  so  loud  and  pressing,  he  felt  not  at 
liberty  to  disregard.  He  arrived  there  about  the  middle  of 
December,  and  continued  till  the  latter  part  of  February.  The 
revival  appears  to  have  been  in  progress  for  some  time  pre- 
vious ;  for,  on  the  8th  of  January,  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson,  whose 
labors  were  divided  between  Machias  and  East  Machias,  re- 
ceived, at  the  former  place,  forty-two  to  the  church.  It  con- 
tinued, however,  and  he  was  permitted  to  labor  amidst  the 
effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Here,  as  in  other  places  at  such 
a  time,  he  was  constantly  at  work,  in  every  direction.  Meet- 
ings for  these  converts  were  held  by  the  pastor,  a  number  of 
which  he  attended.  And,  either  from  the  number  of  the  anx- 
ious or  some  other  cause,  a  meeting  of  inquiry  was  held, 
consisting  of  a  few  gentlemen  rising  of  sixty  years  of  age. 
"With  them  he  frequently  met,  and  appeared  deeply  inter- 
ested for  their  salvation ;  but  the  results  he  has  not  given. 

While  he  was  here,  an  incident  occurred  which  is  thought 
to  be  worth  noticing.  A  lady  from  Topsham  had  married  a 
physician,  who  had  settled  in  this  place.  Some  pious  friends 
in  Topsham,  knowing  that  he  occasionally  journeyed  this  way> 


280  MEMOIR    OF  '[1826. 

had  requested  him  to  make  her  acquaintance,  and  look  after 
her  spiritual  state.  This  he  had  done ;  and  now,  providentially, 
he  spent  a  night  in  the  family.  Toward  morning,  being  awaked, 
he  retired  to  a  neighboring  barn,  and  spent  considerable  time 
in  prayer.  A  few  hours  afterward  he  returned,  and  a  son  had 
been  added  to  the  family.  In  the  morning  devotions,  he 
pleaded  with  great  earnestness  for  the  mother  and  the  child. 
From  that  hour,  that  mother  and  the  nurse,  who  was  present, 
believed  that  the  prayer  would  be  answered  in  the  conversion 
of  the  child.  Years  passed  by ;  and,  while  a  student  at  Bruns- 
wick college,  that  son  became  hopefully  pious.  The  writer, 
while  supplying  the  desk  in  Machias  a  few  sabbaths  in  the 
summer  of  1847,  was  informed  of  the  facts,  and  requested  to 
look  after  the  young  man,  who  had  been  mostly  absent  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  was  then  teaching  in  the  village.  He 
found  him  in  a  very  interesting  state  of  mind,  with  his  face 
toward  the  ministry ;  and,  a  short  time  after,  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  applying  to  him  the  baptismal  water,  and  of  receiving 
him  and  his  mother  to  the  church.  Thus  the  prayer  was  hope- 
fully answered  to  both  the  mother  and  the  child ;  (and,  if 
memory  serves,  none  other  of  the  family,  at  that  time,  had 
become  pious ;)  and  in  the  education  of  the  latter  and  the 
choice  of  the  profession  to  which,  in  spirit,  he  felt  constrained; 
there  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  specific  petitions,  pre- 
sented at  the  time,  were  granted. 

Of  his  last  Sabbath  here,  which  he  spent  at  East  Machias> 
he  says:  '  In  a  solemn  frame  of  mind  this  morning,  in  secret 
and  family  devotions.  Longed  for  assistance  to-day,  as  it  was 
my  last,  and  possibly  the  last  opportunity  I  should  have  of 
speaking  to  the  people  here.  Preached  from  Rev.  22 :  17, 
"  The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come,"  etc.,  and  enjoyed  de- 
sired freedom.  In  the  afternoon,  from  Ps.  81: 12,  "So  I  gave 
them  up,"  etc.,  and  think  I  never  had  a  more  solemn  season. 
Praised  be  the  Lord.  Felt,  in  some  measure,  as  if  I  had  cleared 
my  soul  from  their  blood.' 


1826.]  JOTHAM   SEWALL.  281 

In  passing  through  Prospect,*  on  his  way  home,  he  found 
Rev.  Mr.  Thurston  and  a  gentleman  who  had  come  to  assist 
him  in  an  interesting  and  extensive  revival,  both  laid  by. 
Some  meetings  had  been  disappointed,  and  the  revival  was  at 
its  height ;  and  he  was  importuned  to  tarry.  '  Although,  (he 
says,)  I  had  concluded,  if  possible,  to  be  at  home  this  week ; 
yet,  seeing  the  fields  white  for  the  harvest,  and  no  one  to  put 
in  the  sickle,  I  concluded,  with  some  reluctance,  to  stop  over 
the  Sabbath,  and  perhaps  the  remainder  of  the  week.'  He 
tarried  two  Sabbaths  instead  of  one ;  and,  during  the  inter- 
vening time,  like  one  in  earnest,  he  put  in  the  sickle  with  his 
might.  What  sheaves  he  reaped,  we  leave  to  be  known  here- 
after. He  reached  home  the  7th  of  March,  quite  ill  by  a  cold, 
but  felt  thankful  that  he  had  been  sustained,  amidst  all  the 
labor  which  had  come  upon  him,  during  his  absence. 

The  day  after  his  return,  Mr.  Joseph  Underwood  was  or- 
dained at  New  Sharon ;  but  he  was  too  ill  to  attend.  The 
next  day,  Mr.  Isaac  Rogers  was  ordained  at  Farmington; 
and  being  some  rested  and  relieved,  he  attended,  and  offered 
the  consecrating  prayer.  And  here  he  awakened  no  small  in- 
terest by  bringing  out  the  fact,  which  few  in  the  assembly 
knew,  that  the  person  on  whose  head  his  hand  was  laid,  was 
a  descendant  of  the  famous  martyr  of  Smithfield ;  and,  by 
pouring  out  the  fervor  of  his  soul  in  earnest  supplication  to 
God,  that  the  spirit  of  the  ancestor  might  rest  on  the  descend- 
ant, now  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  holy  ministry. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  March,  he  heard  of  the  death  of 
his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  at  Rye,  N.  H.,  a 
week  previous,  whence  he  had  gone  from  the  Isle  of  Shoals, 
where  he  was  laboring.  This  brought  to  his  recollection  many 
interesting  things  respecting  the  early  religious  history  of  the 
place  ;  the  meetings  which  were  then  established  ;  the  little 

*  Now  Searsport. 
24* 


282  MEMOIR    OF  [1826. 

band  of  six  brethren,*  by  whom  they  were  maintained,  (upon 
which  his  death  was  the  first  breach  ;)  and  the  sweet  religious 
intercourse  they  then  enjoyed ;  and  it  carried  him  to  his 
knees  in  earnest  supplication  that  the  event  might  be  sancti- 
fied to  him,  to  them,  to  the  bereaved  family,  and  to  the  church 
of  God.  On  the  Sabbath  following,  he  endeavored  to  im- 
prove the  event  in  a  discourse  from  the  words,  "  And  Samuel 
died,"  etc.,  in  which  he  indulged  in  some  reminiscences  which 
were  deeply  affecting  to  himself  and  a  portion  of  his  hear- 
ers. 

From  his  return,  to  the  latter  part  of  September,  he  la- 
bored in  Chesterville  and  the  vicinity.  No  effects  particu- 
larly marked,  attended  his  labors  here.  He  however  had 
the  happiness  of  witnessing  events  which  indicated  the  on- 
ward progress  of  the  cause  of  Zion  in  the  region.  On  the 
tenth  of  May,  he  was  permitted  to  participate  in  the  solem- 
nities of  giving  a  Pastorf  to  the  church  in  Madison.  In 
Strong,  God  had  blessed  the  labors  of  a  licentiate,  (Mr.  Har- 
dy ;)  and  he  was  called  to  officiate  in  receiving  twelve  mem- 
bers to  the  church,  and  administer  the  Lord's  Supper.  A 
few  weeks  after,  (July  12th,)  he  assisted  in  placing  this  devoted, 
but  short-lived  servant  of  the  Lord,  over  the  church  which 
had  been  so  enlarged  under  his  prefatory  ministrations. 
Early  in  the  spring,  he  had  been  requested  to  go  and  assist 
in  an  interesting  work  of  grace  in  progress  in  Minot.  "With 
this  request,  he  could  not  consistently  comply.  But  on  the 
fourteenth  of  June,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Cumberland  Confer- 
ence of  Churches  there,  he  enjoyed  the  delightful  solemnity 
of  seeing  sixty-four  persons  added  to  that  household  of  faith. 

*  Thomas  and  Abraham  Davenport,  John  and  William  Bradbury, 
his  brother,  and  himself.  The  last  of  these,  Mr.  J.  Bradbury,  survived 
him  about  a  year. 

t  Rev.  Mr.  Tucker. 


1826.]  JOTHAM    8EWALL.  283 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  he  labored  two  and  a  half 
months  in  Franconia,  N.  H.,  and  vicinity.  On  entering  upon 
this  field,  he  breathed  forth  the  earnest  desires  of  his  heart 
to  God,  in  private  supplication,  that  he  might  be  enabled  to 
gird  on  the  harness  afresh,  and  so  direct  the  truth  that  it 
might  become  effectual.  And  though  he  does  not  record 
more  than  one  case  of  hope  which  came  to  his  knowledge,  he 
was  the  means  of  comforting  and  strengthening  the  people 
of  God,  and  of  receiving  a  few  to  the  churches  in  Franconia 
and  Bethlehem  ;  —  and  the  final  day  may  show  that  his  re- 
quest was  more  largely  granted.*  After  he  had  been  "here  a 
few  weeks,  he  found  that  the  habit  existed  of  working  in  the 
foundry  on  the  Sabbath,  at  least  as  far  as  was  necessary  to 
exhaust  a  "  blast"  of  iron  which  might  be  ready  for  moulding. 
He  had  not  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  business,  to  judge 
whether  or  not  this  was  unavoidable.  But  he  feared  that 
sufficient  pains  were  not  taken  to  prevent  the  desecration  of 
holy  time  ;  and  he  felt  much  for  the  souls  of  those  who  thus 
apparently  violated  a  Divine  command,  and  were  deprived  of 
the  instituted  means  of  salvation ;  and  for  the  effects  of  this, 
on  the  habits,  characters,  and  destinies  of  their  families.  The 
next  day  after  learning  the  fact,  which  was  Sabbath,  he  went 
into  the  foundry  in  the  morning,  and  gave  the  foreman  a 
couple  of  tracts  to  read.  Toward  night,  he  went  in  again, 
and  collected  as  many  of  the  workmen  as  he  could  find,  and 
read  part  of  a  chapter,  gave  a  short  address,  and  prayed  with 
them.  On  another  Sabbath,  he  did  the  same  ;  and  says,  '  I 
pitied  them,  and  longed  for  their  salvation.'  And  yet  again, 
when  his  engagements  did  not  allow  him  time  between  the 
day  and  evening  services  of  the  Sabbath,  he  rose  early,  and 
went  into  the  foundry,  hoping  he  was  in  season  for  a  brief 
religious  exercise,  before  the  casting  commenced.  But  find- 
ing them  just  about  to  begin,  he  says,  '  I  gave  up  praying 

*  He  afterwards  speaks  of  a  little  revival  here  at  this  time. 


284  MEMOIR    OF  [1826. 

with  them,  and  retired  into  a  shed  and  prayed  for  them.  Felt 
much  affected  with  their  condition,  and  entreated  God  to  de- 
vise some  means  for  their  repentance  and  salvation.'  Another 
instancerof  his  faithfulness,  deserves  to  be  noticed.  Spending 
a  night  in  a  family  at  Bethlehem,  he  felt  deeply  for  the  chil- 
dren in  the  seasons  of  worship.  Observing  in  the  evening, 
that  a  young  man  at  work  in  a  cooper's  shop,  was  not  called 
in  to  prayer,  he  went  out,  and,  finding  him  alone,  and  not 
likely  to  be  disturbed,  conversed  and  prayed  with  him,  and 
*  longed  for  his  conversion  then,  and  afterwards  in  secret 
prayer.' 

One  Sabbath,  while  here,  he  exchanged  with  Rev.  S.  R. 
Hall,  of  Concord,  Vt.  This  appears  to  have  been  an  inter- 
esting day.  Of  the  evening,  he  says, '  Had  a  very  solemn 
season.  The  room  was  crowded,  and  many  were  in  tears. 
O,  that  the  word  might  reach  their  hearts.'  Toward  the  close 
of  his  mission,  a  number  of  things  required  his  attention,  and 
he  forgot  the  '  Monthly  Concert,'  which  was  then  attended  on 
Monday.  This  pained  him  much ;  and  he  says, '  Found  to 
my  sorrow,  that  yesterday  was  the  first  Monday  in  the  month, 
and  I  entirely  forgot  the  Concert  of  Prayer !  I  wonder  that 
I  should  forget  it !  Was  jt  because  I  was  so  much  taken  up 
with  arranging  my  temporal  concerns  ?  If  it  was  that,  or 
any  other  sinful  cause,  O  Lord,  forgive  me.  It  would  be  bet- 
ter for  me  to  forget  everything  else,  than  to  forget  Thy  cause 
and  my  duty.1  Does  not  this  fact  furnish  a  useful  hint  to 
many? 

While  here,  he  read  the  Memoir  of  Rev.  Levi  Parsons. 
The  effect  upon  his  mind  he  thus  records :  '  It  reproves  my 
sluggish  course,  to  see  myself  so  much  out-done  in  ardor  of 
feeling  and  abundant  successful  labor.  O,  for  more  grace  to 
do  something  for  God  and  precious  souls,  before  I  quit  the 
stage.'  Again  :  '  Finished  Levi  Parsons's  life.  What  a  de- 
voted servant  of  Christ  he  was.  He  lived  much,  and  did 
much,  in  a  short  time.  I  have  lived  more  than  double  his 


1827.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  285 

years ;  and  what  have  I  done  for  Christ  and  souls  ?  Com- 
paratively nothing !  O,  to  be  quickened,  by  this  perusal,  to 
more  active  service.' 

On  his  way  home,  in  December,  he  spent  a  Sabbath  in 
Windham,  where  the  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Kellogg,  had  recently 
died.  And  it  should  increase  a  sense  of  obligation  in  the 
people  of  God  there,  for  what  has  since  been  wrought  in  their 
behalf,  to  hear  him  say  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  deceased 
pastor,  '  He  is  the  only  male  member,  save  one,  left  in  the 
Congregational  Church  here.' 

After  spending  a  few  Sabbaths  at  home  in  the  beginning 
of  1827,  he  returned  to  Franconia  in  February.  Here  and 
in  the  vicinity  he  labored  through  that  month  and  March. 
He  records  nothing  special  as  occurring;  and  we  have  no 
other  means  of  acquaintance  with  the  results.  After  another 
season  at  home,  he  returned  and  spent  two  more  Sabbaths 
here  in  May.  We  pass  this  season  with  an  extract  or  two 
from  his  diary.  The  first  is  on  the  day  of  the  Maine  State 
Fast  in  April.  '  Had  a  solemn  day ;  think  I  was  enabled  to 
reach  out  after  God  in  Christ,  and  by  faith  anticipate  glori- 
ous days  to  the  Church,  after  Satan  shall  have  done  his  ut- 
most. And  it  was  very  comforting  to  exercise  confidence  in 
God.  His  unshaken  promises  cannot  be  moved,  though  hea- 
ven and  earth  should  pass  away.'  The  following  (a  few 
weeks  after),  contains  a  useful  hint:  'The  seasons  of  family 
prayer  have  been  comforting  for  several  days.  I  find  the 
portions  of  Scripture  which  I  read  in  these  seasons  of  wor- 
ship useful  as  a  directory  in  prayer ;  and  when  I  can  enter 
into  the  spirit  of  the  passage,  I  seldom  fail  of  enjoying  a 
comfortable  nearness  to  God  in  prayer.'  On  his  way  to 
Franconia,  in  May,  being  impeded  by  a  storm,  he  requested 
its  mitigation  that  he  might  proceed,  which  was  granted. 
Sabbath  morning  he  says :  '  Pleaded  earnestly  with  God,  that, 
as  he  had  heard  my  prayer,  and  stayed  the  storm  so  that  I 


286  MEMOIR    OF  [1827. 

could  come  hither,  and  also,  according  to  my  request,  sent  a 
pleasant  day ;  he  would  hear  prayer  and  send  his  Spirit,  not 
only  to  assist  in  the  services  of  the  day,  but  to  set  home  the 
truth  upon  souls,  so  that  there  may  be  some  witnesses  raised 
up  here  for  God  in  consequence  of  my  labors.'  After  hav- 
ing enjoyed  a  solemn  day,  he  says :  '  Walked  out  at  twilight 
to  a  distance  where  I  could  give  scope  to  my  feelings,  and 
cry  aloud  to  God.  Wrestled  with  him  that  this  day's  work 
might  not  be  lost.  Have  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the  privi- 
lege of  drawing  near  to  God,  and  pleading  for  poor  sinners. 
I  leave  my  requests  with  him.  It  may  be  that  hereafter  the 
truth  now  sown  may  spring  up  and  bear  fruit.  This  day 
(May  13th),  makes  just  twenty -nine  years  since  I  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  —  twenty-nine  years  !  and  what  have  I 
done  for  God  and  souls  ? ' 

From  Franconia  he  went  to  Boston,  and  attended  the  an- 
niversaries. Early  in  April,  he  had  been  requested  to  assist 
Rev.  Daniel  Campbell  in  an  interesting  work  of  grace  at 
Kennebunk.  With  this,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  felt  at 
liberty  at  the  time,  to  comply.  But  on  his  return  from  Bos- 
ton, he  spent  the  month  of  June  there,  and  labored  with  his 
accustomed  activity  and  zeal.  On  one  of  the  Sabbaths  which 
he  spent  here,  an  event  occurred  immediately  previous  to  the 
third  meeting,  which  discomposed  his  mind,  and  rendered  it 
needful  to  change  his  subject.  These  circumstances  some- 
what interfered  with  the  enjoyment  and  solemnity  of  the  oc- 
casion ;  and  he  feared  that  the  influence  on  Inquiring  minds 
would  be  unfavorable.  He  retired,  and  '  in  secret  earnestly 
besought  God  not  to  lay  the  blood  of  souls  to  my  charge. 
Entreated  to  an  agony  that  God  would  bless  his  own  truth 
independently  of  my  feelings,  and  carry  on  his  own  work  in 
spite  of  every  hindrance,  and  sanctify  such  trials  to  my  spir- 
itual good.' 

Soon  after  his  return  home  he  received  a  request  to  go  and 
preach  to  seamen  in  Boston.  This,  on  many  accounts  would 


1827.]  J  O  I.H  A  M     S  E  W  A  L  L  .  287 

have  been  pleasant  to  him  ;  but,  on  account  of  the  duties 
which  he  owed  to  his  pastoral  charge,  he  felt  not  at  liberty  to 
comply.  Through  the  season,  and  till  near  the  close  of  the 
year,  he  labored  in  Chesterville  and  vicinity.  We  have  be- 
fore noticed  his  attachment  to  some  of  the  peculiar  doctrines 
of  revelation.  A  record  now  occurs,  which,  especially  as  it 
presents  the  effects  upon  his  own  mind,  it  may  be  well  to  in- 
troduce. '  Had  a  solemn  season  in  family  worship,  attending 
to  the  account  of  Haman's  overthrow.  The  sovereignty  of 
God  was  deeply  impressed  on  my  mind.  I  love  to  have  such 
an  awful  sense  of  the  infinite  Dignity  and  incomprehensible 
Wisdom  and  Power  of  God  in  my  mind.  It  helps  me,  I 
think,  to  -come  to  him  in  some  measure  aright.'  The  "follow- 
ing reminds  us  of  the  importance  of  striving  to  rise  above 
sluggishness  in  religion,  and  is  fraught  with  encouragement 
to  repeat  the  effort  when  the  object  is  not  immediately  at- 
tained. On  Saturday  evening  he  had  felt  rather  dull  in  his 
mind ;  and  Sabbath  morning  found  him  in  the  same  state. 
'Tried  to  pray  several  times  (he  says),  but  could  not  feel. 
Got  to  the  meeting-house  a  little  before  the  time,  and  retired 
into  a  wood  near  by,  and  tried  to  pray  ;  but  with  little  effect. 
On  opening  the  meeting,  however,  my  stupidity  vanished, 
and  the  spirituality  of  things  was  realized.  Spake  from  Rev. 
3  :  1-6,  which  was  given  me  a  few  days  previous  by  a  Chris- 
tian friend  ;  and  I  scarcely  ever  experienced  a  more  solemn 
time.  In  the  season  of  intermission,  I  tried  to  give  thanks 
for  such  unexpected  and  undeserved  mercy,  and  solicit  farther 
aid.  Enjoyed  comfort  in  the  afternoon  in  speaking  from  1 
Ki.  20 :  40,  which  had  been  given  me  by  another  Christian 
friend.' 

His  religious  history  is  strongly  marked  with  a  love  to  the 
duty  of  prayer.  It  was  in  a  sense  his  meat  and  drink.  And 
we  have  noticed  the  distress  which  a  feared  omission  of  closet- 
devotion, —  an  extremely  rare  occurrence,  —  occasioned  him. 
An  instance  of  the  kind  about  this  time  may  be  interesting 


288  MEMOIR     OF  [1827. 

and  profitable  to  the  reader.  He  was  away  from  home,  and 
had  risen  pretty  early  to  cross  the  Kennebeck  and  go  a  short 
distance.  He  transacted  a  little  business,  took  breakfast,  and 
attended  to  family-prayer,  —  and  went  his  way.  '  When  I 
had  gone  two  or  three  miles,  (he  says,)  by  thinking  over  the 
occurrences  of  the  morning,  I  could  not  recollect  that  I  had 
regularly  attended  to  secret  prayer,  —  although  I  had  several 
times  lifted  my  heart  to  God  in  ejaculations.  The  thought 
that  I  should  forget  such  a  duty  was  alarming  and  distressing. 
I  turned  my  horse  out  of  the  road,  and  retired  among  the 
bushes,  and  besought  God  to  forgive  my  neglect  and  fill  my 
soul  with  such  measures  of  love  that  I  should  sooner  forget 
my  necessary  food  than  forget  my  duty  to  him.' 

While  at  home  during  this  season,  he  collected  and  con- 
ducted a  Bible  class.  He  also,  by  personal  visits,  ascertained 
who  were  destitute  of  the  Bible  in  town,  and  obtained  a 
supply. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  and  extending  two  weeks  into 
January  of  the  next,  he  labored  in  the  midst  of  a  delightful 
and  extensive  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  Westbrook.  Pre- 
vious to  this  event,  the  interests  of  evangelical  piety  in  the 
place  were  low.  The  Congregational  church  and  parish  then 
embraced  what  now  constitutes  two  such  churches  and  par- 
ishes. With  the  interruption  of  only  two  years,  the  regular 
administration  of  the  word  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  had 
been  enjoyed  there  since  the  formation  of  the  church,  in  1764. 
And  yet,  in  September  of  1826,  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
was  present  at  a  communion  season,  (and  it  was  not  a  stormy 
day,)  when  only  twelve  persons,  beside  the  pastor  and  himself, 
were  seated  at  the  table.  This  season  of  refreshing  was  very 
timely  for  that  old,  and  then  feeble,  church,  —  and  he  la- 
bored in  it  with  his  accustomed  assiduity,  and  with  great 
acceptance,  and  profit  to  souls.  Of  the  last  Sabbath  which 
he  spent  here,  he  says, '  Preached  in  the  afternoon  from  Ezek. 
33 :  11, u  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure 


1828.]  GOTHAM   SEW  ALL.  289 

in  the  death  of  the  wicked,"  etc.  Had  a  solemn  time.  Went 
directly  to  Sacarappa,  and  preached  in  the  hall,  in  the  even- 
ing, from  Judges  3 :  20,  and  had  an  uncommonly  solemn 
season.  The  place  was  crowded  with  attentive  hearers.  O, 
that  good  may  result.  It  has  been  a  happy  day  to  my  soul. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord.' 

On  leaving  Westbrook,  without  going  home,  he  took  a  mis- 
sion of  six  weeks  in  Union,  and  proceeded  toward  that  place. 
Reaching  Warren,  he  found  an  interesting  revival  in  pro- 
gress. His  labors  were  much  desired  here ;  and  concluding 
to  tarry,  he  supplied  his  place  at  Union  principally  by 
another. 

As  he  saw  life  advancing,  he  had  strongly  desired  and  earn- 
estly prayed  to  be  an  instrument  of  accomplishing  more  for 
souls  and  for  Zion  before  he  left  the  world.  It  would  seem 
as  if  in  the  events  now  before  us,  these  requests  were  being 
answered.  He  continued  to  labor  in  Warren  and  vicinity  till 
April ;  and  as  far  as  the  means  of  knowing  are  afforded  us, 
in  no  part  of  his  ministry  hitherto  were  his  labors  so  directly 
blessed  to  the  salvation  of  sinners  as  now.  If  the  fact  was 
otherwise,  it  escaped  his  knowledge,  or  has  failed  to  be  no- 
ticed in  the  record  of  events  which  he  kept.  He  had  often 
labored  in  extensive  revivals,  and  where  much  was  effected. 
But  nowhere  in  his  history  do  we  find  so  frequent  notices  of 
the  awakening  of  sinners  by  his  preaching,  who  were  brought 
speedily  to  bow  to  the  Saviour,  as  now.  If  his  labors,  at 
other  times  and  in  other  places,  had  been  immediately  pro- 
ductive of  these  happy  events,  in  equal  or  greater  amount, 
he  did  not  learn  the  fact ;  and  then  it  follows,  that  God  was 
giving  him,  in  larger  measure  than  before,  the  comfort  of  the 
evidence  that  his  requests  in  this  respect  were  granted.  And 
the  effect  was,  as  on  all  previous  occasions  of  the  kind,  to  fill 
him  with  gratitude  and  humility.  On  finding  two  such  ;u> 
stances  he  exclaims, '  Oh,  what  reason  have  I  to  be  thankful! 


290  MEMOIR     OF  [1828. 

If  these  are  real  converts,  their  salvation  is  more  than  enough 
to  repay  a  whole  life's  labor.' 

A  Congregational  church  had  existed  in  the  place  since 
1794,  and  had  enjoyed  the  labors  of  a  pastor  from  a  date 
about  a  year  subsequent  to  its  formation.  But  neither  the 
church  (which  was  small),  nor  its  pastor  were  of  a  decidedly 
evangelical  character.  The  subjects  of  this  work  who  sym- 
pathized with  Congregationalism,  and  a  few  others  who  re- 
sided in  the  place,  were  desirous  of  being  embodied  into  a 
distinct  church.  On  the  5th  of  February  a  council  was  con- 
vened for  this  purpose.  Communicating  with  the  pastor  of 
the  existing  church,  the  objections  were  received  that  the 
forming  of  a  separate  church  would  be  productive  of  unfore- 
seen evils,  and  that  possibly  an  arrangement 'might  be  made 
•which  would  be  satisfactory  to  those  who  wished  to  be  em- 
bodied. In  view  of  these,  the  council  adjourned  for  three 
weeks.  Having  convened  again,  and  no  arrangement  having 
been  made,  the  council  proceeded,  and  on  the  27th,  organized 
a  church  of  twenty-three  members.  The  subject  of  our  nar- 
rative officiated  in  receiving  it  to  the  fellowship  of  the  church- 
es, and  thus  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  welcoming  to  the  visible 
kingdom  of  Christ  a  valuable  and  important  branch,  to  the 
existence  of  which  his  labors  had  materially  contributed. 
The  following  Sabbath  he  admitted  two  additional  members, 
and  introduced  the  church  to  the  privilege  of  commemorating 
the  dying  love  of  its  Lord  at  his  table. 

The  Spirit  of  God  was  descending  on  some  of  the  neigh- 
boring churches,  —  and  while  at  "Warren,  and  for  a  short  time 
afterwards,  he  performed  considerable  labor  in  Waldoboro' 
and  Thomaston,  especially  at  the  latter  place.  Having  spent 
a  few  Sabbaths  here,  and  lectured  and  visited  abundantly,  the 
people  expressed  their  kindness  to  him,  — and  their  sense  of 
the  value  of  his  labors,  —  in  a  contribution,  so  large  that  he 
felt  unwilling  to  receive  it,  except  on  the  condition  of  appro- 


1828.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  291 

priating  half  of  it  to  constitute  himself  a  life-member  of  the 
Maine  Missionary  Society. 

On  his  way  homeward,  in  the  former  part  of  April,  his 
progress  was  arrested  by  a  line  from  the  writer,  then  pastor 
in  New  Castle,  requesting  assistance  in  a  season  of  special 
interest,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  his  health.  '  When 
the  children  cry,  (he  said,)  the  parents  run  ;'  and  he  turned 
aside  to  help  his  feeble  son.  Excepting  a  brief  absence  or 
two,  he  continued  here  three  months.  And  it  was  doubtless 
in  mercy  to  the  people,  that  an  unworthy  instrument  was 
comparatively  laid  aside,  —  that  one  whom  God  could  more 
consistently  bless  should  be  employed.  And  if  the  parent 
gathered  sheaves  where  the  son  should  have  reaped  them,  it 
was  a  reward  graciously  due  to  the  piety  of  the  one,  and  a 
just  rebuke  to  the  other.  No  lurking  of  envy,  however,  was 
or  could  be  cherished  at  the  transfer  of  the  blessing,  as  far  as 
it  was  transferred,  but  joy  that  a  hungry  flock  was  thus  pro- 
vided for. 

His  labors  during  the  time,  though  abundant  in  New  Castle, 
were  not  confined  to  it.  Now  he  might  be  found  at  Edgecomb 
or  Wiscasset,  (in  both  of  which  places  some  special  attention 
existed,)  and  now  at  Bristol  or  Waldoboro'.  And  his  transi- 
tions from  one  of  these  points  to  another  were  frequently 
made  by  slipping  quietly  from  his  bed  while  others  were 
locked  in  the  arms  of  repose,  and  passing  from  eight  to 
twelve  miles  before  it  could  be  seen  that  the  region  was  in- 
habited by  a  moving  population.  And  this  was  sometimes 
done.  —  I  may  say,  indeed,  generally,  —  after  what  most 
would  have  regarded  as  an  exhausting  day's  labor.  He  was 
now  within  less  than  two  years  of  his  three  score  and  ten, 
and  his  eye  had  begun  to  grow  dim.  But  no  one  who  would 
notice  the  amount  of  his  labors,  or  undertake  to  trace  him  in 
his  movements,  would  think  that  his  "natural  force"  had  at  all 
"  abated." 

A  few  points  during  his  labor  in  New  Castle  were  invested 


292  MEMOIR     OF  "[1828. 

with  much  interest.  We  will  mention  one.  He  had  had  a  very 
solemn  lecture  at  a  neighboring  house,  and  called  at  Deacon 
D.'s,  and  conversed  with  a  daughter,  who  had  been  some 
time  anxious.  He  then  had  the  family  collected,  and  enjoyed 
*  a  melting  season  in  praying  with  and  for  them/  and  in  giv- 
ing '  up  all  the  children  to  God,'  (doubtless  one  by  one,)  '  to 
be  converted.'  After  leaving  the  house,  the  earnestness  of 
his  desire  for  the  granting  of  his  requests  produced  cries  and 
sobs,  as  he  passed  on  toward  the  residence  of  his  son.  Pre- 
cious mercy-drops  descended  on  that  family  then  and  after- 
•yards ;  and,  in  a  few  years,  fruits  of  righteousness,  from 
seed  scattered  perhaps  by  different  hands,  sprang  up  remark- 
ably along  that  road  where  then  his  tears  were  sown.  The 
assembly,  also,  must  have  been  interested  and  impressed 
when,  on  an  exchange  at  Alna,  he  told  his  hearers,  that, 
twenty-eight  years  before,  lacking  a  few  weeks,  he  was  con- 
secrated to  the  work  of  the  Ministry  in  the  very  desk  from 
which  he  then  addressed  them,  and  there  received  the  sol- 
emn charge ;  and  that  therefore  he  must  be  faithful  to  their 
souls. 

"We  have  previously  noticed  with  what  particularity  he 
accustomed  himself  to  cany  everything  to  God  in  prayer. 
And  if  God's  government  extends  to  all  things,  so  that  a 
sparrow  falls  not  on  the  ground  without  our  Heavenly  Father, 
and  we  are  directed  to  ask  what  we  will ;  this  is  doubtless 
proper.  And  if  Christians  had  more  of  that  child-like  sim- 
plicity and  confidence  which  would  lead  them  to  go  to  him 
with  every  minute  concern,  they  would  receive  far  more  an- 
swers to  their  prayers  than  they  now  do.  And,  surely,  he 
who  admits  the  above  positions,  (and  who,  with  the  Bible  in 
his  hands  can  deny  them?)  will  not  think  lightly  of  any  in- 
stance of  supplication,  however  insignificant  its  object,  which 
meets  with  an  apparent  response  from  heaven.  One  or  two 
cases  out  of  many  which  might  be  given,  may  be  interesting 
to  the  reader.  Just  before  he  left  Thomaston  in  the  spring, 


1828.J  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  293 

on  retiring  one  Saturday  night,  he  missed  his  purse.  The 
amount  of  money  in  it  was  not  large  ;  but  such  an  event  to 
any  one,  especially  to  one  who  handles  little  cash  and  is  fre- 
quently in  want  of  change,  is  apt  to  produce  uncomfortable 
feelings.  At  first,  he  could  not  conjecture  what  had  become 
of  it :  but  at  length  he  recollected,  that  he  had  used  it  at 
Warren  that  afternoon  in  paying  the  postage  of  a  couple  of 
letters,  and  had  thrown  it,  with  the  letters,  into  his  hat.  He 
then  concluded  that  in  taking  off'  his  hat  for  his  mittens  by 
the  way,  he  had  lost  it.  He  laid  the  matter  before  God  in 
prayer.  Sensible  that  an  undue  love  to  the  world  was  not 
eradicated  from  his  heart,  he  asked  that  the  event  might  tend 
to  cure  his  covetousness.  The  question  of  its  restoration  he 
submitted  to  the  Divine  will,  with  a  confidence  that  he  should 
receive  it  again  <  if  the  Lord  saw  best.'  There  he  quietly 
left  the  affair,  consecrating  the  contents,  in  case  of  receiving 
them,  to  some  charitable  use.  Leaving  Thomaston  the  next 
Monday,  he  called  at  Warren  for  dinner.  While  sitting  at 
table,  it  was  remarked  that  a  few  minutes  before,  one  of  the 
children  had  brought  in  a  purse  which  he  picked  up  at  the 
door,  wondering  '  who  had  been  throwing  away  money.'  It 
was  the  lost  article,  which  had  laid  there  undiscovered  from 
Saturday  night,  where  he  then  recollected  to  have  taken  off 
his  hat.  '  After  dinner  (he  says),  I  retired,  and  tried  to  thank 
God  for  hearing  prayer,  and  asked  that  my  faith  might  be 
strengthened  to  commit  everything  to  him,  however  small, 
and  also  to  expect  that  great  things  as  well  as  small  will  be 
done  in  answer  to  prayer.'  More  was  added  to  what  the 
purse  contained,  and  laid  aside  for  the  object  specified. 

While  at  home  in  the  summer,  he  was  troubled  with  the 
inroads  of  his  cattle  upon  a  certain  field.  He  had  given 
some  attention  to  it  on  Saturday,  and  desired  to  have  his  mind 
free  from  worldly  cares,  that  he  might  be  prepared  for  ap- 
proaching holy  time.  Sabbath  morning  he  feared  the  repe- 
tition of  a  breach  on  the  enclosure,  and,  as  the  field  was  out 
25* 


294  MEMO  IK     OF  [1828. 

of  sight,  considerable  damage  as  the  consequence.  He  sol- 
emnly committed  the  matter  to  God,  and  '  besought  him  to 
condescend  to  keep  the  cattle  out  of  mischief,'  and  to  deliver 
his  mind  '  from  worldly  cares  and  anxieties,'  and  help  him  to 
do  his  '  duty  to  precious  souls.'  At  night  he  had  occasion  to 
bless  God  that  his  requests,  in  all  these  respects,  had  been 
granted. 

Soon  after  this,  he  received  a  request  to  go  and  labor  in 
"VViscasset,  where  some  special  interest  existed.  The  labor 
expected  was  regarded  by  those  who  wished  it  as  preparatory 
to  a  distinct  organization  in  the  place, — an  event  which  by 
some  was  regarded  as  important  to  the  interests  of  evangelical 
religion  there.  A  compliance  with  the  request  was  liable  to 
involve  some  difficulties.  He  says,  '  I  went  to  God  with  it, 
and  told  him  I  was  his  servant,  and  he  had  a  right  to  send 
me  anywhere,  and  make  me  a  pick-axe  or  any  other  tool,  to 
serve  the  interests  of  his  church.  Felt  willing  for  anything 
of  the  kind,  if  he  would  go  with  me  and  help  me.'  He  labored 
there  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  last  of  October.  On 
the  eighth  of  the  latter  month,  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  was 
convened,  which  organized  a  second  Congregational  Church 
there  on  the  following  day.*  After  leaving  Wiscasset,  he 
spent  a  few  Sabbaths  in  the  neighborhood,  mostly  in  New 
Castle,  which  was  now  destitute  by  the  absence  of  the  writer, 
who  had  gone  south  on  account  of  feeble  health.  A  few 
weeks  at  home  ended  the  year ;  and  its  last  Sabbath  found 
him,  under  the  pressure  of  a  heavy  cold,  unable  to  preach. 
On  the  third  of  September,  he  saw  a  Congregational  Church 
gathered  in  New  Vineyard,  and  a  pastor  given  it  at  the  same 
time.  He  also  saw  a  pastor  placed  over  the  church  in  New 
Portland  ;  and  he  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  consecrating  his 
oldest  son  to  the  office  of  deacon  in  the  church  under  his  own 
particular  care,  —  a  solemnity  which  he  thought  ought  never 
to  be  omitted. 

*  This  church,  after  maintaining  separate  worship  a  few  years,  was 
happily  merged  in  the  first. 


1829.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  295 

Near  the  beginning  of  1829,  he  spent  a  few  Sabbaths  more 
at  New  Castle.  While  here,  after  the  falling  of  a  heavy 
snow  wiiich  was  much  drifted,  he  attempted  on  Saturday  to 
pass  from  Brunswick  to  Woolwich,  where  he  was  to  have 
spent  the  Sabbath.  In  the  contest  with  a  blustering  atmos- 
phere and  almost  impassable  roads,  he  was  obliged  to  yield, 
and  seek  a  house  for  the  night  and  the  following  day.  This 
was  something  of  a  trial  to  him,  as  punctuality  was  a  virtue 
on  which  he  somewhat  valued  himself.  Being  obliged  to 
pause,  he  says,  '  I  have  been  ready  to  be  provoked  with  some 
ministers  for  not  having  more  courage  to  surmount  difficul- 
ties ;  *  not  making  proper  allowance  for  my  superior  health 
and  strength,  for  which  I  have  not  at  all  times  felt  my  de- 
pendence. "Who  maketh  thee  to  differ?"  and,  "  What  hast 
thou  that  thou  hast  not  received?"  are  inquiries  which  have 
not  borne  with  sufficient  weight  upon  my  mind.  For  these 
things  I  have  reason  to  be  humble,  and  acknowledge  God's 
righteous  rebukes  in  the  course  of  his  holy  providence.'  He 
fell  into  very  kind  quarters,  in  a  family  near  New  Meadows 
river  ;  none  of  whom,  however,  were  professedly  pious.  In 
the  evening  devotions,  he  had  '  some  out-goings  of  soul  to  God' 
in  their  behalf,  and  '  longed  to  be  made  useful  to  them.'  Sab- 
bath morning  was  more  mild ;  and  he  attempted  to  collect  a 
small  assembly ;  but  the  roads  were  so  completely  blocked 
that  he  failed.  Having  with  him  a  volume  of  Payson's  ser- 
mons, and  finding  it  would  be  agreeable  to  the  family,  he 
read  one  to  them  in  the  forenoon  and  one  in  the  afternoon, 
praying  before  and  after  each.  His  feelings  he  thus  records  : 
'  In  secret,  besought'  God  to  an  agony  that  the  season  might 
be  blessed  to  the  spiritual  good  of  the  family.  If  it  should 
be  set  home  upon  any  of  their  consciences  or  hearts,  as  a 
sermon  which  I  heard  read  almost  forty-six  years  ago  was  to 
mine,  they  will  have  reason  to  remember  the  season  forever.' 
After  leaving  New  Castle,  he  spent  a  short  time  at  Woolwich, 

*  Some  disappointments  had  given  him  occasion  for  this. 


296  MEMOIR    OF  ^[1829. 

where  gracious  influences  were  descending.  A  number  had 
indulged  hope,  and  others  were  anxious.  From  this  place,  he 
went  on  to  Arrowsick  Island,  (Georgetown,)  where  a  revival 
was  in  progress.  He  also  visited  Parker's  Island,  ( Westport,) 
where  an  interesting  work  among  the  Freewill  Baptists  the 
fall  before  had  brought  fifty  into  the  church.  Returning  to 
Arrowsick,  he  received  a  request  to  go  to  Phipsburg,  where 
the  Spirit  was  generally  and  powerfully  descending.  There 
he  labored  a  short  time,  preaching  on  the  Sabbath,  lecturing, 
visiting,  conversing,  praying,  and  attending  meetings  for  in- 
quiry. Sixty  or  seventy,  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  were 
supposed  to  have  been  subjects  of  converting  grace  at  the 
time ;  and  many  more  were  under  awakenings. 

From  Phipsburg  he  returned  home  the  1st  of  April ;  and 
the  rest  of  the  year  he  labored  in  Chesterville  and  the  vicin- 
ity. We  have  occasionally  noticed  that  he  spent  a  season  in 
secret  devotion  between  meetings  on  the  Sabbath.  A  record 
which  now  occurs  informs  us  that  that  was  his  practice. 
'  Had  an  hour  and  a  half  of  intermission.  Spent  part  of  the 
time  in  secret  prayer ;  which  is  common  for  me,  when  time 
and  circumstances  will  allow.' 

By  the  Kennebeck  Conference,  he  had  been  appointed, 
with  a  lay  brother,  a  committee  to  visit  the  churches  belong- 
ing to  that  body  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  To  this 
duty  he  attended  in  June.  The  church  in  Unity,  he  found 
much  reduced.  He  says,  '  When  this  church  Mras  first  gath- 
ered in  the  fall  of  1804,  there  were  twelve  members,  and 
circumstances  looked  favorable.  But  now,  after  more  than 
twenty-four  years,  it  is  reduced  to  half  the  number,  only  two 
of  them  males.'  He  enjoyed,  however,  an  interesting  meet- 
ing. In  Clinton,  he  records  a  more  encouraging  state  of 
things.  Referring  to  an  individual  whom  he  had  known  in 
Hamden,  he  says^'  When  she  came  here,  she  was  almost  the 
only  pious  person  in  the  neighborhood.  Now  they  have  a 
church,  a  meeting-house  with  a  bell,  and  a  settled  minister.' 


1829.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  297 

"While  on  this  tour,  he  attended  the  installation  of  Rev.  Daniel 
Lovejoy  over  the  churches  in  Windsor,*Washington,  Albion, 
and  Unity-  The  solemnities  were  performed  on  the  3d  of 
June^at  the  first-named  place. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  he  attended  the  meeting  of 
the  General  Association  of  Massachusetts,  at  Andover,  as  a 
delegate  from  the  Maine  State  Conference.  In  this  body  he 
found  such  changes  wrought  by  time,  that  he  says,  '  Could  not 
help  reflecting  on  twenty  or  thirty  years  back,  when  I  used 
to  attend  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary 
Society.  Scarcely  any  now  remain  who  first  composed  that 
Society.  There  is  reason  to  be  thankful,  however,  that  so 
many  pious  young  men  are  raised  up  to  fill  the  places  of  those 
who  are  gone.  In  many  places,  things  are"in  a  better  state 
than  in  the  days  of  the  Fathers.' 

In  September,  he  mentions  a  revival  of  religion  in  North 
Augusta ;  and  another  in  Dixfield,  in  consequence  of  which 
a  number  of  family  altars  had  been  erected.  On  the 
14th  of  October,  he  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Her- 
mon  Stinson  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Weld,  (Rev.  Mr. 
Starrett  having  left;)  and,  in  connection  with  it,  he  speaks 
of  a  revival  in  Rumford,  which  was  reported  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Gould.  Nearer  the  close  of  the  year,  he  also  speaks  of  a 
work  of  grace  as  being  in  progress  in  Vienna.  , 

In  November,  he  observed  a  day  of  private  fasting  and 
prayer.  Of  this  he  says,  '  Enjoyed  freedom  and  solemnity  in 
prayer,  and,  for  some  things,  wrestled  and  agonized  with  God. 
Read  many  appropriate  passages  of  Scripture  to  lead  my 
mind  in  supplication  on  the  several  articles  I  had  arranged 
for  the  day.  0,  that  God  would  hear  and  answer  the  peti- 
tions I  have  poured  out  before  him  !  Toward  the  close  of 
the  day,  particularized  all  my  children  and  grandchildren, 
and  enjoyed  much  freedom  in  praying  for  them.  O,  to  meet 
them  all  in  heaven  !  God  can  so  order  it  if  he  pleases.  With 
him  I  leave  them  all.'  It  was  about  sunset  when  he  left  the 
place  of  his  devotions. 


298  MEMOIR    OF  [1830. 

Near  the  beginning  of  1830,  he  took  another  tour  eastward, 
to  the  extremity  of  the  State,  preaching  and  visiting  with  his 
customary  diligence.  At  Machias,  particularly  at  the  Port, 
he  paused  and  spent  a  few  Sabbaths.  At  Kobbinston,  where 
Rev.  Calvin  White  was  then  laboring,  he  found  some  special 
interest.  He  had  now  exceeded  his  u  threescore  years  and 
ten ;"  and,  supposing  that  he  might  never  visit  that  region 
again,  he  appears  to  have  taken  a  formal  leave  of  some  of  the 
churches  and  people  to  whom  he  had  so  often  dispensed  the 
word  of  truth,  and  among  whom  God  had  so  signally  owned 
and  blessed  him.  In  this  tour  he  spent  ajoout  two  months,  and 
returned  from  it  near  the  close  of  March. 

Not  long  after  his  return,  on  an  exchange  at  Winthrop,  he 
found  some  special  attention.  The  Spirit  had  begun  to  descend 
there,  in  his  awakening  and  converting  power ;  and,  soon  after, 
or  about  the  same  time,  on  other  places  in  the  vicinity.  Cases 
of  hope  occurred  in  Fayette  and  South  Chesterville  ;  and  the 
shower  of  mercy  extended,  ami-fell  around  his  own  dwelling. 
Many  of  the  youth  were  solemnly  impressed  with  a  sense  of 
their  guilt  and  danger,  and  brought  to  submit  to  Christ.  The 
work  became  quite  general ;  and,  as  might  be  expected,  the 
earnestness  of  his  soul  was  often  poured  out,  in  the  closet  and 
elsewhere,  for  the  continuance  and  spread  of  the  shower  of 
mercy,  and  for  the  conversion  of  particular  persons.  Nor, 
while  the  clews  of  Heaven  were  descending  thus  plentifully 
around  him,  did  his  own  fleece  remain  dry.  A  son,  whose 
mind*  was  much  interested  in  the  revival  of  1819,  but  who  had 
not  become  hopefully  pious,  was  now  brought  to  embrace  the 
Saviour.  The  circumstances  are  worthy  of  notice.  At  a  social 
prayer  meeting,  this  son,  who  had  been  anxious  for  some  time, 
disclosed  his  feelings,  and,  among  others,  rose  for  prayer. 
The  father,  soon  after,  led  in  this  exorcise.  And,  (he  says,) 
'I  felt  for  him  exceedingly.  If  ever  I  prayed  with  all  my 
heart,  I  think  I  did  then.  Brought  to  view  Christ's  readi- 
ness to  heal  sick  bodies,  when  he  was  upon  earth.  Could 


1830.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  299 

not  but  think  he  was  as  ready  now  to  heal  sick  souls,  as  he 
was  then  to  heal  sick  bodies.  He  healed  numbers  then  on  the 
application  of  their  friends  £fcind  now  friends  come  to  him  in 
behalf  of  spiritually  diseased  relatives.  Entreated  him  to 
regard  their  situation.  Felt  almost  as  if  I  could  take  no  de- 
nial.' The  next  day  he  found  that  during  the  prayer  a  saving 
change  was  hopefully  effected.  The  son  felt  willing  to  yield 
himself  to  God  ;  and  such  a  change  took  place  in  his  feelings 
as  to  inspire  the  hope  that  he  had  "passed  from  death  unto 
life." 

His  youngest  son,  now  a  member  of  Bowdoin  college,  was 
the  only  remaining  child  unhoused  in  the  ark  of  safety.  For 
his  conversion  he  now  besought  the  Lord.  Being  in  Fairfield, 
where  he  had  spent  the  previous  Sabbath,  on  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember he  sought  a  secluded  spot  in  a  forest,  and  spent  the  day 
in  fasting  and  prayer.  Confessing  his  sins  and  imploring  for- 
giveness, he  spread  out  before  God  '  the  wants  of  the  church 
in  Chesterville,  and  pleaded  for  many  other  important  things, 
particularly  for  D.'s  conversion,  and  that  he  may  become  a 
minister  of  the  New  Testament.  Was  enabled,  part  of  the 
time,  to  plead  with  God  with  strong  cryings,  and,  I  hope,  in 
the  exercise  of  humble  faith.' 

For  an  answer  to  these  requests,  at  least  in  one  particular, 
he  had  not  to  wait  long.  In  a  few  days  that  son  returned  from 
college  to  spend  the  fall  vacation  under  the  parental  roof.  At 
first,  his  mind  was  unaffected  by  what  was  passing  around  him, 
except  that  a  degree  of  that  displeasure  was  felt,  which  so 
commonly  arises  from  an  impenitent  heart,  at  the  thought  of 
being  brought,  by  friends,  within  the  influence  of  such  a  scene, 
in  hope  of  his  conversion.  At  a  prayer  meeting  which  he 
attended,  however,  about  two  miles  from  his  father's  house, 
and  to  which  he  went  with  only  his  customary  feelings,  he  was 
deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  God's  goodness  to  him,  and 
his  corresponding  undutifulness,  ingratitude,  and  guilt.  Dur- 
ing the  night,  (which  he  spent  at  his  oldest  brother's,)  his 


300  MEMOIR    OF  [1830. 

mind  was  so  subdued,  humbled,  and  changed,  that  he  retunied 
home  the  next  morning  hopefully  a  new  creature,  wishing  to 
devote  himself  to  the  service  of  that  beneficent  Creator  whom 
he  had  so  long  and  unreasonably  defrauded.  At  a  conference 
meeting  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  he  opened  his  mind  and 
expressed  a  trembling  hope  of  an  interest  in  God's  pardoning 
mercy.  The  deeply  affected  father,  in  recording  the  event, 
exclaims,  '  Oh,  what  boundless  mercy  !  what  superabounding 
grace  !  Has  God  fulfilled  his  covenant,  and  become  a  God  to 
the  last  of  my  children,  so  that  I  have  now  no  unconverted 
children  to  pray  for  !  Returned  home,  and  tried  to  give  God 
thanks.' 

Since  the  revival  of  1819,  other  denominations  had  become 
somewhat  numerous  in  the  place ;  and  in  this,  things  were 
conducted  very  much  according  to  their  views,  and  sometimes 
not  in  accordance  with  his.  But  he  loved  peace  among  the 
different  orders  of  Christians ;  and,  being  well  aware  that 

'  The  Spirit,  like  a  peaceful  dove, 
Flies  from  the  realms  of  noise  and  strife,' 

he  sometimes  submitted  to  things  with  some  struggles  of  con- 
science, committing  all  to  God,  rather  than,  by  correcting 
statements  which  he  regarded  as  fundamentally  erroneous,  to 
hazard  discussions  or  a  clashing  of  opinions  which  would  di- 
vert attention  from  the  great  things  on  which  it  should  be 
concentrated.  He  loved,  indeed,  the  whole  truth  himself; 
and  was  ready,  on  proper  occasions,  to  advance  and  defend  it. 
But  he  was  characteristically  averse  to  anything  like  prose- 
lyting to  a  denomination.  And  in  the  case  before  us,  he  so 
carefully  and  entirely  abstained  from  exhibiting  his  own  pecu- 
liar views  on  the  minor  points  of  doctrine,  that  he  had  reason 
to  fear  that  other  orders  than  his  own  would  gather  in  the 
sheaves  of  the  rich  harvest  which  the  Spirit  had  caused  to 
grow.  The  course  which,  instead  of  direct  efforts  to  win 
members  to  his  church,  he  pursued,  is  given  us  in  a  record 


1830.]  JOTIIAM    SEWALL.  301 

made  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  when  a  number  offered 
themselves  for  admission.  '  Trust  I  had  some  feelings  of  grati- 
tude to  God,  as  a  hearer  of  prayer.  In  times  past,  in  view  of 
the  efforts  of  other  orders  at  proselyting,  I  have  asked  the 
Lord  to  proselyte  a  little  for  us  ;  as  he  could  do  it  more  ef- 
fectually than  we  could,  and  secure  to  us  better  members.' 
As  the  result  of  this  work  of  grace,  he  gathered  a  number 
into  the  branch  of  the  church  of  which  he  was  pastor  in  Fa- 
yette,  and  a  number  more  into  the  parent  church.  Among  the 
latter  were  the  two  sons,  over  whose  hopeful  conversion  we 
have  just  seen  him  rejoicing. 

Other  places  also  were  blessed.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
year  he  speaks  of  a  revival  in  Wilton,  and  another  in  New 
Sharon,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Underwood, 'as  quite 
powerful  and  extensive.  He  also  mentions  a  number  of  cases 
of  hopeful  conversion,  and  others  anxious,  in  Bowdoin  college 
during  the  fall  term. 

Some  ecclesiastical  changes  had  occurred  around  him  dur- 
ing the  year.  On  the  7th  of  July,  he  assisted  in  ordaining 
Rev.  Simeon  Hackett,  as  pastor,  of  the  church  in  Temple. 
And  on  the  loth  of  November,  the  Rev.  Fifield  Holt  of  Bloom- 
field,  after  a  short  illness,  was  taken  from  the  embraces  of  his 
family  and  flock  by  death.  He  mentions  also  the  ordination 
of  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Adams,  at  Brunswick,  as"  having  occurred  in 
December  1829. 

We  have  before  remarked  that  he  had  now  exceeded  "  three 
score  years  and  ten"  of  his  mortal  existence.  And  yet  we 
find  him,  in  a  number  of  instances  this  year,  preaching  four 
times  on  the  Sabbath ;  and,  on  one  of  these  days,  administer- 
ing also  the  Lord's  Supper.  One  other  instance  of  his  indus- 
try may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  reader.  He  had  spent  the 
Sabbath  in  Winthrop.  On  Monday  he  went  thence  to  Bruns- 
wick, leaving  appointments  for  the  morrow  as  he  returned. 
The  next  morning  (awaking  early)  he  started  at  three  o'clock, 
26 


302  MEMOIR    OF  [1830. 

rode  to  Litchfield  in  a  severe  rain-storm,  and  preached  to  a 
handful  of  people  who  collected  at  half-past  ten.  After  din- 
ner he  proceeded  thence  to  the  north-east  part  of  Monmouth, 
and  preached  again  near  night.  He  then  went  to  Winthrop, 
and  closed  the  day  with  a  lecture  there  in  the  evening.  And 
when  at  home,  his  hand  was  little  less  laborious  or  efficient 
in  any  kind  of  work  which  required  to  be  done,  than  in  his 
younger  days. 

Passing  much  which  is  interesting  in  his  private  history,  an 
extract  or  two  are  given,  which  show  his  watchfulness  over 
his  own  spirit,  and  his  sense  of  the  evil  of  defects  in  duty. 
A  Christian  brother  had  been  leading  in  his  family  worship. 
He  says,  (  I  found  my  mind  wandering  upon  things  which 
made  me  inattentive  to  a  part  of  his  prayer,  for  which  I  felt 
ashamed  afterwards.  And  I  ought  to  feel  more  ashamed  and 
humbled  before  God,  that  I  should  be  guilty  of  such  irreve- 
rence toward  him,  to  the  injury  of  my  own  soul.'  At  another 
time,  reviewing  a  season  of  devotion,  he  says, '  Alas,  how 
often,  when  I  attempt  to  pray,  are  my  feelings  far  from  what 
they  should  be !  Such  prayers  cannot  be  pleasing  to  God. 
He  requires  the  heart,  and  might  say  to  me  as  to  Israel  of 
old,  "  Bring  no  more  vain  oblations."  O,  I  fear  I  have  not 
been  duly  sensible  how  often  and  how  dreadfully  I  have  pro- 
voked God  by  such  heartless  services !  Thus  to  trifle  with 
him,  and  mock  him  by  dead  sacrifices,  must  be  highly  insult- 
ing !  O,  I  need  to  have  my  services,  as  well  as  my  sin-pol- 
luted soul,  sprinkled  daily  with  the  precious  blood  of  the 
Almighty  Saviour.' 

Another  extract,  showing  the  interest  of  his  mind  in  Divine 
truth,  may  not  be  unprofitable.  In  family  worship,  he  had 
been  reading  in  Ezekiel.  '  Had  an  unusual  view  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  nation  of  Isreal,  about  which  the  Lord  has 
seen  fit  that  so  much  of  the  Sacred  volume  should  be  occu- 
pied. Longed  for  the  time  of  the  Millennium,  when  much 


1830.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL. 

more  will  be  known  about  that  interesting  people,  and  why 
God  has  dealt  with  them  as  he  has,  and  expended  so  much 
time  and  attention  upon  their  concerns,  and  made  all  who 
read  the  Bible  pay  so  much  attention  to  them.  They  are 
certainly  preserved  for  some  great  and  important  end.' 


CHAPTER  IX. 

• 

VARIOUS  LABORS AT  HOCLTON AT  CAPE  COD  —  AT 

HARPSWELL. 

THE  year  1831  was  distinguished  for  the  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit  on  many  places.  The  notices  in  his  diary  are  con- 
fined principally  to  places  where  he  was.  And  yet  he  names 
the  following  as  enjoying  revivals  of  religion  of  greater  or 
less  extent :  Hallowell,  Augusta,  (both  parishes,)  Vassalboro', 
Waldoborough,  Bangor,  Bloomfield,  Solon,  Industry,  New 
Vineyard,  New  Sharon,  Kingsfield,  and  Weld.  Of  Bloom- 
field,  he  says,  '  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  here.'  He 
does  not  mention  the  number  of  hopeful  conversions.  But 
some  idea  of  its  extent  may  be  formed  by  the  fact,  that, 
spending  a  single  Sabbath  there,  near  the  beginning  of  the 
following  year,  (Jan.  29th,)  he  received  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers to  the  church.  As  the  result  of  this  gracious  visitation, 
he  also  gathered  a  number  into  several  of  the  feeble  and  des- 
titute churches  in  the  vicinity. 

The  months  of  May,  June,  and  a  part  of  July,  he  spent  on 
the  Penobscot,  assisting  Rev.  Mr.  Pomeroy,  of  Bangor,  in  an 
interesting  revival,  and  laboring  in  the  neighboring  towns. 
His  record  does  not  furnish  the  general  facts  which  might 
have  been  interesting  to  the  reader.  Nor,  where  one  sows  the 
seed,  without  waiting  to  see  much  of  it  spring  and  grow,  are 
we  to  expect  that  it  will  give  the  particular  incidents  which 
others,  perhaps,  at  a  later,  period,  could  furnish.  Preaching 
on  the  Sabbath,  however,  lecturing,  visiting,  conversing,  and 
praying  with  his  customary  diligence  and  fervor,  we  are  not 

I 


1831.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  305 

to  suppose  that  his  labors  were  without  effect  He  seemed 
to  put  in  the  sickle  as  one  who  saw  the  harvest  rjpe  before 
him,  and  who  felt  that  he  might  not  have  long  to  labor.  In 
a  number  of  instances  about  this  time,  we  find  him  preaching 
four  times  on  the  Sabbath.  Once  this  was  effected  by  em- 
bracing the  opportunity  afforded  by  the  long  intermission 
usual  in  cities  and  villages,  to  ride  out  four  miles,  and  give  a 
sermon  to  a  small  congregation  in  the  neighborhood.  And 
yet,  so  humbling  is  the  effect  of  the  Spirit's  influences  on  the 
mind,  and  so  alive  is  the  devoted  Christian  to  defects  or  neg- 
ligence in  duty,  that,  a  few  months  after  this,  finding  himself 
in  rather  a  dull  devotional  frame,  on  reading  in  the  life  of 
Payson,  he  said, '  I  am  ashamed  of  myself,  when  I  read  Pay- 
son's  memoirs.  He  lived  fast,  and  soon  finished  his  work. 
He  did  more  in  a  short  life,  than  many  such  drones  as  my- 
self would  in  a  long  one.  When  I  consider  where  I  am  in 
life,  I  have  need  to  think  of  that  saying,  "  That  thou  doest, 
do  quickly ; "  "  For  there  is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowl- 
edge, nor  wisdom,  in  the  grave  whither  thou  goest." '  How 
he  could,  in  any  respect,  call  himself  '  a  drone,'  must  appear 
a  little  singular  to  any  one  who  was  acquainted  with  him,  or 
who  will  trace  the  record  which  he  has  left  of  his  life.  It  can 
only  be  explained  on  the  principle  which  will  lead  the  righteous 
at  the  last  day  to  say,  "  When  saw  we  thee  an  hungered,"  etc. 
In  reference  to  comparative  usefulness,  he  and  that  holy  man, 
Payson,  doubtless  have  a  better  opportunity  of  comparing 
notes  now,  and  seeing  what  their  Adorable  Master  enabled 
them  to  accomplish,  than  they  could  have  had  on  earth.* 

t 

*  Dr.  Pomeroy,  then  Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Ban- 
gor,  speaks  of  him  at  this  time  as  '  diligent,  faithful,  untiring,  in  his 
labors.  Personally  (he  says)  I  received  much  instruction  from  his 
wisdom  and  experience,  and  am  confident  that  his  labors  were  blessed 
to  many  others.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing,  in  subsequent  years,  to 
hear  individuals  refer  to  conversations  held  with  him  at  that  time.' 
He  adds,  'My  estimate  of  his  deep  practical  piety,  sound  common 
26* 


306  MEMOIR    OF  [1831. 

During  this  season  of  interest,  he  enjoyed  some  seasons  of 
earnest,  agonizing  prayer.  Of  a  church  fast  which  he  at- 
tended in  Bangor,  he  says, '  Took  part  in  exhortation  and 
prayer;  and  my  whole  soul  was  drawn  out  to  God  for  perish- 
ing souls.'  Leading  in  prayer,  at  a  morning  prayer-meeting 
at  the  house  of  Gen.  C.,  in  Hamden,  he  Introduced  the  case 
of  a  son  who  was  the  only  remaining  member  of  the  family  not 
hopefully  pious ;  and,  he  says, '  felt  such  earnest  desires  for  his 
conversion,  that  I  could  scarcely  contain  myself.'  These  re- 
quests, and  those  which  he  presented  the  evening  before,  for 
the  same  person,  it  is  hoped,  were  not  in  vain. 

An  illustration  of  the  efficacy  of  Christ's  merits  in  our  be- 
half, may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader.  At  a  morning 
prayer-meeting,  a  few  weeks  after  the  above,  and  at  the  same 
place,  he  says,  '  Had  some  peculiar  views  of  the  name  of  Jesus, 
given  to  us  to  come  to  God  in.  It  is  like  having  the  name 
of  a  friend  of  undoubted  credit  lent  to  us  to  draw  any  sum 
we  need  from  a  rich  man  or  at  a  bank.  If  we  were  ever  so 
poor,  it  would  make  no  difference  while  the  credit  of  the 
friend  is  good.  So  if  we  are  ever  so  deeply  bankrupt,  owing 
ten  thousand  talents,  and  having  nothing  to  pay,  the  name  of 
Jesus  will  secure  us  anything  that  God  can  bestow.  His 
credit  has  never  failed  in  heaven.' 

The  revivals  above  referred  to,  and  many  others  in  the 
State  at  the  same  time,  were  very  generally  attended  with 
'  four  days','  or  '  protracted  meetings,'  as  they  were  called. 
These  were  not  the  work  of  '  revivalists,'  or  '  new-measure- 
men.'  They  were  merely  a  meeting  of  the  shepherds  with 
different  portions  of  the  flock,  and  a  multiplication,  for  the 

sense,  strong  native  talent,  and  true  devotedness  to  his  work,  was 
very  high.  His  influence  was  felt  in  almost  every  village  and  neigh- 
borhood in  the  State.  For  a  whole  generation  and  more,  he  was  "  the 
voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness."  He  did  a  great  work  in  his 
day.  The  seals  of  his  ministry  are  very  numerous,  —  but  precisely  how 
numerous,  will  be  known  only  nt  the  great  day.1 


1831.]  JOT  II  AM    SEWALL.  807 

time,  of  the  ordinary  means  of  grace.  They  seemed  to 
spring,  somewhat  spontaneously,  from  the  quickened  feelings 
of  ministers  and  churches,  and  their  increased  anxiety  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners.  They  were  greatly  blessed  to  this  end, 
and  contributed  also  to  a  union  of  feeling  among  Christians 
of  different  evangelical  denominations.  Conducted  as  they 
were,  they  were  liable  to  little  objection,  except  as  they  might 
have  contributed  to  bring  too  hastily  to  a  crisis  a  work  which, 
otherwise,  might  have  longer  continued;  and,  by  the  fre- 
quency of  meetings,  to  act  disproportionately  on  the  sympa- 
thies. It  cannot  be  denied  that  they  were  blessed  to  the 
conversion  of  many  souls,  and  in  some  instances,  to  revivals 
of  religion,  which,  to  human  appearance,  would  not  kave  oc- 
curred without  them.  But  the  best  things  are  liable  to  abuse ; 
and  when  Christians  began  to  depend  upon  these,  and  feel 
that  they  were  indispensable  to  a  work  of  saving  grace  among 
the  impenitent,  the  Spirit  began  to  withdraw, — and  becoming 
less  effectual,  they  fell  into  disuse. 

During  a  series  of  meetings  at  Waldoboro',  in  September, 
having  given  a  lecture  at  a  school-house,  he  was  invited  to 

the  house  of  a  Mr.  J K .  This  friend  (he  says), 

'  told  me  that  twenty  years  ago,  last  May,  I  preached  in  the 
same  school-house,  and  he  requested  me  to  baptize  a  child  for 
him,  which  I  refused  to  do.  I  recollect  the  event.  I  could 
not  get  evidence  of  him  or  his  wife,  and  told  him  that  if  he 
had  never  given  himself  to  Christ,  he  could  not  give  his  child 
in  faith.  This,  together  with  the  sermon,  was  the  means  of 
his  awakening ;  and  he  afterward  obtained  hope,  and  then  his 
wife.  How  sovereign  are  God's  ways  ! '  Had  this  man  been 
gratified,  the  result,  to  him  and  others,  might  have  been  eter- 
nally different. 

Preaching  at  Winthrop,  at  a  '  protracted  meeting,'  from  the 
words,  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,"  he  says :  '  Had  one  of 
the  most  solemn  seasons  I  ever  enjoyed  in  attempting  to  dis- 
pense the  word.'  Of  a  Sabbath  discourse  at  ChesterviUe. 


308  MEMOIR    OF  '    [1832. 

from  Jer.  5  :  21,  "And  what  will  ye  do  in  the  end  thereof?" 
—  he  says :  '  Had  an  uncommonly  solemn  season.  Felt  as 
though  I  was  delivering  God's  truth,  for  which  I  must  be  ac- 
countable to  him.  Think  it  was  one  of  the  most  solemn  sea- 
sons I  ever  experienced  in  preaching.  Blessed  be  God  for 
his  merciful  assistance.'  Of  a  thinly  attended  church-confer- 
ence the  previous  day,  he  says,  '  But  it  was  a  solemn  season. 
Never  do  I  recollect  to  have  obtained  more  confidence  in 
prayer,  that  God  would  hear,  and  have  mercy  upon  this 
church  and  build  it  up.' 

For  nearly  three  months,  in  the  former  part  of  1832,  he 
labored  in  Castine.  This  was  occasioned  by  the  absence  of 
the  youthful  and  much-loved  pastor  of  the  Trinitarian  church, 
Rev.  John  Crosby,  on  account  of  ill-health.  Nothing  of  pe- 
culiar interest  is  known  as  the  result  of  his  labors  here, 
though  a  remark*  at  the  close  of  them  authorizes  the  belief 
that  he  had  reason  to  think  they  had  been  blessed  to  the  sal- 
vation of  some.  Before  leaving,  he  assisted  in  the  painful 
duty  of  dissolving  the  pastoral  relation  which  had  existed 
between  Rev.  Mr.  Crosby  and  his  charge.  This  occurred  on 
the  3d  of  May. 

We  pass  over  this  year  with  a  few  extracts  from  his  diary. 
On  a  Sabbath  in  July,  he  says  :  '  In  the  prayer  before  the  ser- 
mon in  the  forenoon,  found  my  mind  uncommonly  led  out  to 
God.  One  thing  after  another  was  brought  to  my  mind  as  a 
subject  of  supplication  ;  and  I  was  loath  to  leave  the  throne  of 
grace  while  I  was  admitted  so  near,  without  praying  for  almost 
everything  I  could  think  of.  Was  favored  with  the  same 
sweet  gale  of  Divine  influence  through  the  public  services.  O, 
what  reason  I  have  to  be  thankful!  Oh,  to  be  kept  from 
pride  and  vain  glory !  It  would  be  fearfully  ungrateful  in 
me  to  feed  my  lusts  with  these  holt/,  heavenly  dainties.'  The 
evil  which  he  here  deprecates  he  sometimes  felt,  and  thus 
mourned  over  on  another  occasion,  when  in  the  duties  of  the 


1832.]  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  309 

Sabbath  he  had  enjoyed  less  of  the  Divine  presence  and  as- 
sistance than  usual :  '  Lord,  why  hidest  thou  thy  face  ?  Why  - 
hast  thou  withdrawn  thyself  ?  Has  pride  or  self-confidence 
risen  up  within  me,  and  separated  between  thee  and  my  soul? 
Oh,  this  accursed  pride !  Thou  robber  of  my  soul's  comfort, 
thou  enemy  of  God  and  all  righteousness,  how  long  shall 
there  be  found  a  place  for  thee  in  my  wicked  heart?  •  Oh 
to  be  made  and  kept  humble  and  holy  ! '  He  has  not  given 
us  the  particular  occasion  of  the  following  lamentation,  but  it 
shows  us  the  trouble  he  still  had  with  inbred-sin.  'Find  my- 
self a  sinful  creature.  I  often  pray,  (or  try  to,)  "Lead  us 
not  into  temptation,"  and  then  am  so  unwatchful  as  to  run 
right  into  it.  What  a  wonder  of  mercy  it  will  be,  if  such  a 
sinful  wretch  as  I  ever  gets  to  heaven ! ' 

Other  passages,  however,  (and  they  far  more  frequently  oc- 
cur than  such  as  the  above,)  show  a  happier  state  of  mind : 
'  This  morning,  in  the  course  of  reading  for  family  prayer,* 
we  read  of  Christ's  weeping  over  Jerusalem,  which  brought 
upon  my  soul  an  overwhelming  sense  of  his  compassion  for 
me  and  others,  —  though  he  perfectly  knew  all  our  opposition 
to  him  and  holiness.  Had  a  solemn,  affectionate  season  in 
prayer.  Besought  him  that  his  wonderful  compassion  might 
be  exercised  effectually  toward  each  one  of  us,  and  that  not 
one  of  us  may  be  left  to  reject  his  love,  trample  his  mercy 
underfoot,  and  perish  amidst  such  a  profusion  of  compassion- 
ate, condescending  kindness' 

The  following  shows  his  habit  when  abroad,  as  well  as  at 
home,  and  is  not  destitute  of  historic  interest.  Speaking  of 
family  prayer,  he  says,  '  which  I  have  never  neglected  since 
I  had  a  family  (when  with  them),  nor  when  abroad,  except 
in  a  few  instances  where  others  did  not  choose  to  have  it.  I 


*  When  at  home,  he  always  read  the  Bible  in  course  at  family  wor- 
ship. And  we  may  here  remark,  that  it  was  his  uniform  custom  to 
have  the  members  of  his  family  read  with  him. 


310  MEMOIR    OF  [1832. 

do  not  recollect  ever  being  so  sick  as  not  to  be  able  to  attend 
to  it,  except  when  I  had  the  typhus  fever.'  The  reader  will 
remember  how  very  ill  we  have  often  seen  him  from  differ- 
ent causes.  But  a  slight,  or  even  a  material  inconvenience, 
he  did  not  regard  as  a  disability  or  an  excuse.  lie  loved 
prayer.  He  considered  it  a  duty;  and  he  was  not  easily 
turned  aside  from  what  he  thus  regarded.  '  God  must  be 
served'  seemed  to  be  his  motto  —  a  motto  which  he  conscien- 
tiously observed  to  the  last.  The  reader  will  also  remember 
that  the  above  remark  about  his  constancy  abroad,  covers  not 
simply  his  professional  life,  but,  almost  entirely,  his  Christian 
life.  Solomon  says,  "  A  faithful  man  who  can  find  ? "  A 
few  such,  at  least,  have  lived. 

Toward  the  close  of  October,  repeated  exposures  brought 
on  a  severe  ague  in  his  face.  From  this  he  suffered  more  or 
less  for  a  number  of  days,  and,  at  length,  severely.  When 
he  obtained  relief,  he  said,  'While  suffering  I  thought,  how 
easily  God  could  so  order  it  that  the  inflammation  should  shift 
to  my  brain,  and  take  away  my  reason  and  my  life  ;  and  so 
my  probation  and  my  days  on  earth  forever  close.  And  then 
if  TEKEL*  should  be  written  upon  me,  how  awful !  But, 
dreadful  as  it  would  be,  it  would  be  most  just.  Nothing  but 
the  precious  blood  of  Christ  can  prevent  this.  On  him  I 
would  rely,  and,  with  respect  to  life  or  death,  would  say, 
Lord,  as  thou  pleasest.' 

Not  long  after  this,  we  find  him,  on  Saturday  evening, 
while  praying  for  assistance  on  the  morrow,  'longing  to  have 
the  world  shut  out  of  his  heart,  and  locked  out ; '  —  an  ex- 
ample worthy  of  imitation.  How  many  unprofitable  Sab- 
baths might  thus  become  invaluable  blessings. 

If  the  occasion  for  the  following  implied  censure  had  en- 
tirely passed  by,  it  would  be  happy.  '  Attended  the  Monthly 
Concert  of  prayer;  and  it  was  a  good  season.  The  prayers 

*  He  had  preached  from  Daniel  5 :  27,  the  day  previous. 


1833.J  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  311 

were  appropriate  and  solemn  ;  —  not  tediously  long,  nor  em- 
bracing every  object  but  the  right  —  as  is  sometimes  the  case 
at  seasons  like  this ;  —  which  is  a  great  i'ault,  I  think,  among 
professors,  and  sometimes  among  ministers.  When  we 
come  before  the  throne  of  grace,  we  ought  to  know  and  feel 
our  errand;  and  our  whole  soul  should  seize  the  object  and 
ply  the  mercy-seat  as  those  who  are  in  earnest  to  be  heard 
and  answered.'  Much,  doubtless, — very  much  —  would  be 
added  to  the  interest  and  efficacy  of  prayer,  by  observing  the 
simple  rule  here  suggested,  —  knowing  and  feeling  our  '  er- 
rand,' and  doing  it. 

The  ecclesiastical  changes  which  he  witnessed  this  year 
were  more  numerous  than  common.  At  its  commencement, 
lie  lamented  the  death  of  the  excellent  and  much-loved  Rev. 
Mr.  Jenkins,  of  Portland.  But  most  of  the  occurrences  in 
this  department  were  of  a  more  pleasing  character.  On  the 
4th  of  January,  he  assisted  in  giving  a  pastor,  Rev.  Daniel 
Libby,  to  the  church  in  Dixfield  ;  and,  on  the  1st  of  Febru- 
ary, in  conferring  a  similar  gift  on  the  church  in  Wilton,  in 
the  person  of  Rev.  Samuel  Talbot.  On  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, he  aided  in  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Asa  Bullard,  as 
an  Evangelist,  in  Portland ;  and  on  the  loth  of  March,  in 
setting  apart  to  the  work  of  the  Ministry  Rev.  Josiah  Fisher, 
and  giving  him  in  charge  the  church  at  Stillwater.  At  this 
time,  he  speaks  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  as  being  settled  at  Brewer, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Fisk  at  East  Brewer,  since  the  last  summer. 
On  the  16th  of  May,  he  assisted  in  ordaining  Rev.  John  A. 
Vinton  at  New  Sharon,  (Rev.  Mr.  Underwood  having  been 
dismissed)  ;  on  the  3d  of  October  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins 
at  Fail-field;  and  on  the  17th  of  the  same  month,  Rev. 
Alden  Boynton  at  Industry. 

He  commenced  the  year  1833  by  observing  its  first  day  as 
a  season  of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  Of  this  he  thu3 
speaks :  '  Found  it  good  to  confess  sin,  original  and  actual, 


312  MEMOIR    OF  [1833. 

and  acknowledge  the  righteousness  of  the  penalty  of  the  holy 
law,  and  sue  for  pardon  through  the  merits  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ.  Devoted  myself  afresh,  soul  and  body,  with  all 
the  powers  of  the  one  and  members  of  the  other,  to  God,  and 
besought  his  acceptance  of  them  to  be  used  in  the  work  of 
the  Ministry  the  little  remaining  time  allotted  me  on  earth. 
Entreated  his  assistance  and  acceptance  in  the  great  work. 
On  entering  the  ministry,  I  begged  for  spiritual  children, 
" or  1  die"  I  now  begged  for  children  before  I  die.'  Then 
followed  supplication  for  the  church  of  which  he  was  pastor, 
for  the  interests  of  religion  generally,  and  for  the  nation. 
The  last  quoted  sentence  shows  the  intenseness  of  desire  for 
success  with  which  he  entered  the  Ministry,  and  which  still 
burned  on  the  altar  of  his  heart  with  unabated  fervor.  No 
wonder  that  he  was  ready  to  seize  on  every  opportunity  to 
preach,  and  that  he  regarded  a  stormy  Sabbath,  (as  he  uni- 
formly did),  a  frown  in  providence.  And  it  is  no  wonder, 
that,  when  nearly  another  score  of  years  was  added  to  his 
life,  he  was  still  unwilling  to  relinquish  the  idea  of  prosecut- 
ing the  great  and  good  work. 

A  call  to  the  Ministry,  in  his  view,  consisted  not  in  the 
fact  that  a  pious  young  man  must  enter  it  unless  he  could 
prove  the  contrary  to  be  his  duty,  but  in  a  special  designa- 
tion of  the  Spirit  by  impressions  on  the  mind  and  correspond- 
ing orderings  of  providence.  We  hence  find  more  than  one 
such  entrance  as  the  following  in  his  diary,  relating  to  his 
youngest  son  whose  college  course  was  now  completed.  '  In 
secret  I  had  an  uncommon  season  in  wrestling  with  God  for 

D ,  that  he  would  lay  upon  him  a  sense  of  the  worth  of 

souls,  and  give  him  a  desire  to  glorify  God  in  trying  to  win 
them  to  Christ.'  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  these  re- 
quests were  accepted  in  heaven :  and  what  rich  blessings,  in 
the  process  of  events,  may  be  the  result,  another  world  only 
can  unfold. 

The  following  shows  the  impartiality  with  which  the  reo 


1833.J  JOTHAM    SB  WALL.  313 

ords  in  his  diary  were  made,  as  well  as  his  compunction  for 
smaller  faults.  '  Felt  unusually  peevish.  Small  things  would 
put  me  out  of  humor ;  for  which  I  felt  ashamed  afterward.' 

For  some  time  past,  he  had  been  occasionally  afflicted  with 
sudden  attacks  of  dizziness  and  sickness  at  the  stomach,  which, 
for  the  time,  entirely  incapacitated  him  for  outward  duty. 
As  yet,  however,  they  had  not  interfered  with  any  public  pro- 
fessional duty.  One  Saturday  afternoon,  he  suffered  some- 
what from  one  of  these  attacks;  but  hoped  the  rest  of  the 
night  would  relieve  him.  In  this,  however,  he  was  disap- 
pointed ;  for,  as  soon  as  he  rose  the  next  morning,  he  found 
the  same  difficulty  upon  him.  Repeated  efforts  of  nature  to 
free  the  stomach  did  not  relieve  him  ;  and  the  remedies  which 
he  applied,  that  organ  refused  to  bear.  He  carried  the  mat- 
ter to  God,  and  requested  permission  to  engage  in  the  public 
duties  of  the  day,  and  strength  to  perform  them.  At  length, 
succeeding  in  retaining  a  little  nourishment,  he.  went  to  the 
place  of  worship.  '  Spake,  (he  says)  from  Luke  24 :  34 : 
"  The  Lord  is  risen  indeed ; "  and  had  a  most  solemn  and  af- 
fectionate season.  Do  not  know  as  I  ever  had  my  feelings 
in  better  accordance  with  my  subject.  In  the  afternoon, 
fcpake  from  Gen.  50:  24:  "I  die;  and  God  will  surely  visit 
you  ; "  and  had  also  a  good  season.'  After  that,  he  went  to 
Farmington  Falls  and  preached  again  :  and,  at  the  close  of 
the  day,  says,  '  Oh,  what  reason  I  have  to  be  thankful  that 
the  Lord  has  helped  me  in  body  and  mind,  through  the  ser- 
vices of  another  holy  Sabbath.  He  is  a  hearer  of  prayer. 
May  this  instance  encourage  me  to  trust  in  the  Lord  in  time 
to  come.  David  said,  "  Because  the  Lord  hath  inclined  his 
ear  unto  me,  therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as  I 
live." ' 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  those  who  shared  in  the  Revolution- 
ary struggle,  and  passed  with  our  nation  through  the  trials 
of  its  infancy,  possessed  a  stronger  attachment  to  it — at  least 
an  attachment  more  tender  and  sympathizing  —  than  those 
27 


3U  MEMOIR     OF  [1833. 

who  have  known  it  only  in  the  strength  of  its  manhood. 
They  were  prepared  to  place  a  higher  value  on  the  privileges 
to  which,  through  such  difficulties,  she  had  risen  ;  and  to  be 
alive  to  any  causes  which  might  undermine  or  destroy  them. 
The  reader  has  already  noticed  how  deep  and  strong  was  the 
principle  of  love  to  his  country  in  the  breast  of  the  subject 
of  this  memoir.  Another  exhibition  of  it  was  made  at  the 
annual  State  Fast,  which  occurred  a  few  days  after  the  pre- 
ceding. '  Preached  in  the  forenoon  from  Jer.  5:9:  :'  Shall 
I  not  visit  for  these  things,  saith  the  Lord :  and  shall  not  my 
soul  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation  as  this?"  Enumerated 
some  of  the  sins  of  our  nation,  and  compared  them  with  the 
sins  of  Israel,  etc.  Knew  not  as  I  ever  enjoyed  a  more  sol- 
emn season.  Trembled  for  my  guilty  country.  Unless  God 
in  mercy  interpose,  we  are  a  ruined  people.  In  the  after- 
noon, spake  from  Ps.  85 :  9  :  "  Surely  his  salvation  is  nigh 
them  that  fear  him,  that  glory  may  dwell  in  our  land."  This 
subject  was  in  contrast  with  the  other.  In  that,  I  brought 
to  view  the  reasons  we  have  for  fear ;  in  this,  the  reasons  we 
have  for  hope.  A  solemn  season  also.'  He  then  adds, 
*  Few  attended.  Was  ready  to  wonder,  particularly  at  pro- 
fessing Christians,  that  so  many  of  them  should  keep  away. 
I  found  it  to  be  as  one  of  my  choice  Sabbaths.  Oh,  what 
reason  I  have  to  be  thankful  for  the  privilege  of  joining  with 
others,  and  of  leading  and  assisting  their  devotions  on  such 
an  interesting  occasion.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul." ' 

This  year,  in  June,  he  visited  Bristol,  R.  I.,  as  delegate  to 
the  General  Association  of  that  State  from  the  Maine  State 
Conference.  On  his  way,  he  attended  the  religious  anniver- 
saries at  Boston ;  and,  spending  a  Sabbath  in  Kewburyport, 
he  preached  in  the  desk  under  which  the  remains  of  the 
venerated  Whitefield  repose. 

The  latter  half  of  the  year,  he  labored  in  Old  Town  and 
vicinity,  under  the  direction  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society. 
Here  he  saw  much  disregard  of  religion  and  its  institutions, 


1833.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  815 

which  pained  his  heart.  The  loose  population,  collected  by 
the  extensive  milling  operations  there,  contributed  materially 
to  this.  '  Was  grieved,  (he  says/)  to  find  the  holy  Sabbath 
BO  profaned  in  a,  variety  of  ways.  Some  of  the  saw-mills 
going.  Persons  were  travelling  on  worldly  business,  notwith- 
standing the  rain.  And  before  the  rain  commenced,  some 
were  picking  berries,  and  others  rafting,  etc.  O,  when  shall 
the  Sabbath  lie  revered  ? ' 

Desiring  a  blessing  on  his  labors,  and  feeling  the  need  of 
other  things,  he  resorted  to  private  fasting  and  prayer.  Being 
diverted  from  his  purpose  of  thus  spending  a  certain  day  by 
a  call  to  attend  a  funeral,  he  "notwithstanding  retired  to  a 
wood,  and  spent  about  four  hours  in  devotional  exercises. 
Two  days  afterward,  obtaining  permission  of  its  owner,  he 
went  to  an  empty  house,  which  appears  to  have  been  some- 
what retired,  -'  tied  my  horse  in  the  shed,  (he  says,)  carried 
my  things  in  and  fastened  the  door  after  me,  and  spent  the 
day  in  secret  fasting  and  prayer.  Have  reason  to  be  thank- 
ful for  the  privilege  ;  I  have  wanted  it  for  some  time.  Spread 
many  important  things  before  the  Lord  in  prayer  ;  and  some 
part  of  the  time,  agonized  in  supplication.  Hope  I  wrestled 
with  the  Lord.  O,  to  prevail  as  Jacob  did  !  Among  other 
things,  particularized  my  wife  and  children,  and  grandchildren, 
and  pleaded  the  promises  which  are  made  to  children's  child- 
ren,—  that  notwithstanding  my  great  unworthiness,  the 
heritage  which  the  good  man  leaves  to  his  children's  children 
may  descend  to  them,  and  be  richly  bestowed  upon  each  one 
of  them.  May  the  mercy  and  righteousness  of  the  Lord 
extend  to  them  all.  AMENT.' 

JVhile  laboring  here,  in  conversing  with  a  man  on  whom 
he  called,  he  used  an  expression  which  he  afterward  feared 
might  have  given  needless  offence.  He  called  again ;  and 
finding  that  it  had,  he  acknowledged  his  fault,  and  asked  for- 
giveness. On  this  he  remarks,  '  I  think  it  duty  to  remove  all 
such  causes  of  offence,  when  I  can  do  it  conscientiously. 


316  MEMOIR    OF  [1833. 

Sinners  are  full  apt  enough  to  take  offence  at  the  naked  truth, 
without  having  my  imperfections  to  stumble  at.  0  Lord, 
give  me  wisdom  to  walk  towards  them  that  are  without.' 

Being  at  Bangor  in  August,  he  found  the  brick  edifice 
belonging  to  the  Theological  Institution  going  up.  In  honor 
of  his  previous  occupation,  as  well  as  to  express  his  interest 
in  the  Seminary  for  which  he  had  labored  and  prayed  so 
much,  he  took  a  trowel  and  laid  two  bricks  in  the  front  wall.* 

Before  leaving  the  region,  he  assisted  in  council  at  the 
formation  of  the  Hammond  Street  Church,  Bangor.  This 
took  place  on  the  5th  of  December.  On  the  30th  of  January, 
he  had  assisted  in  the  installation  of  Rev.  Oren  Sikes  at 
Mercer.  At  another  time,  we  find  him  mourning  over  the 
death  of  his  much-loved  brother  in  the  ministry,  Rev. 
Daniel  Lovejoy,  which  occurred  on  the  10th  of  August, 
J3.Q  had  been  an  excellent  and  useful  man ;  but,  for  some 
time  previous  to  his  death,  suffered  from  ill  health  and  dis- 
tressing mental  depression. 

The  following  extract  exhibits  a  state  and  habit  of  mind 
•which  remind  one  of  the  expression  used  to  describe  the 
character  of  Enoch,  (Gen.  5:  24).  Speaking  of  his  set  sea- 
sons of  devotion,  lie  adds,  '  And  I  do  esteem  it  a  privilege  to 
lift  my  heart  in  aspirations  to  God  at  any  time,  by  night  or  by 
day,  when  journeying  or  engaged  in  any  lawful  employment, 
•when  receiving  any  mercy,  to  give  thanks  ;  or  if  any  adverse 
providence  crosses  my  Movements,  to  beg  God  to  sanctify  it 
to  my  good.  I  love  to  realize  the  hand  of  God  in  everything. 
"The  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered,"  and,  "!Xot 
a  sparrow  falls  on  the  ground  without  your  Heavenly  Father," 
are  sayings  of  our  blessed  Lord  which  I  love  to  feel.' 

*  The  liberality  of  friends,  principally  graduates  from  the  Institu- 
tion, afterward  placed  his  likeness  in  the  library  apartment  of  this 
building.  It  is  an  excellent  painting,  and  a  correct  likeness,  —  with 
one  unhappy  exception.  —  an  expression  of  anxiety,  which  was  by  no 
means  natural  to  him.  It  was  taken  in  February,  1845,  when  he  was 
85  years  old. 


1834.]  JOTHAMSEWALL.  817 

On  reaching  home  near  the  close  of  the  year,  he  found 
some  special  religious  interest  existing  in  Chesterville  and 
Fayette.  Indeed,  clouds  of  mercy  began  to  hover  over  many 
churches,  and  blessings  to  descend.  In  the  course  of  1834, 
he  names  revivals  in  Topsham,  Bath,  Farmington,  Temple, 
and  Strong ;  and  more  than  ordinary  interest  in  a  number  of 
other  places.  In  Bath,  the  work  was  powerful,  and  brought 
some  important  persons  into  the  church.  In  Strong,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  the  work  was  still  more 
extensive.  Among  the  different  orders,  he  says  that  some 
one  hundred  and  fifty  were  regarded  as  having  passed  from 
death  to  life,  thirty  of  whom  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church  at  one  time. 

Finding  himself  surrounded  at  his  residence  by  a  pleasing 
religious  interest,  his  own  feelings  were  excited,  and  he  ap- 
pears to  have  conversed  and  prayed  with  increased  fervor. 
Some  individuals  lay  with  peculiar  weight  upon  his  mind. 
Of  one  whose  case  was  introduced  at  an  evening  prayer-nieet- 
ing,  he  says,  '  I  felt  so  for  him  that  it  seemed  I  could  take  no 
denial,  —  that .  he  must  become  a  Christian.'  On  the  follow- 
ing evening,  he  conversed  with  the  person  and  a  sister  of  his, 
and  prayed  with  them.  The  same  feelings  are  again  express- 
ed, particularly  for  him  ;  and  he  adds,  '  0,  that  God  would 
answer.  He  is  a  hearer  of  prayer,  and  a  Father  to  the  father- 
less. O,  that  the  prayers  of  his  dying  father  may  come  into 
kind  remembrance  before  God.'*  Both  of  these  persons 
subsequently  shared  equally  in  the  earnestness  of  his  suppli- 
cations ;  and.  fr  is  hoped  that  he  was  accepted  in  their  behalf. 
This  work  of  grace  resulted  in  the  addition  of  a  number  to 
the  different  churches  in  Chesterville,  particularly  from  among 
the  young. 

The  general  observance  of  the  first  Monday  in  January  as 
a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  the  conversion  of  the  world, 

*  The  death  of  that  father  has  been  mentioned  in  this  memoir  as 
having  occurred  bv  tvphus  fever  in  1814. 
27* 


MEMO  III    OK  [1834. 

had  been  recommended.  Failing  of  a  meeting  which  he 
hoped  to  have  enjoyed,  he  took  his  chamber,  and  observed  it 
by  himself.  Beside  a  number  of  personal  and  local  things 
which  he  spread  out  in  prayer,  he  says, '  Besought  God,  that 
as  he  opened  the  two-leaved  gates  before  Cyrus  of  old,  he 
would  open  the  two-leaved  gates,  prejudice  and  inveterate 
habits,  and  cause  the  Gospel  to  enter  all  the  strongholds  of 
heathenism  under  the  Great  Captain  of  salvation,  and  cause 
even  populous  China  to  surrender,  and  become  a  Christian 
Empire.' 

During  the  former  part  of  this  year,  he  labored  in  Edge- 
comb,  which  was  now  destitute  by  the  ill  health  of  its  stated 
supply,  Rev.  Daniel  Kendrick. 

Leaving  here,  he  went  through  Bath,  and  assisted  in  a 
protracted  meeting  held  there  at  that  time.  It  was  now  so 
late  in  the  season,  that  the  snow  was  principally  gone ;  and 
the  reader  will  probably  smile  at  the  figure  which  he  must 
have  presented  on  a  part  of  his  journey  home.  Worrying 
along  with  his  sleigh  awhile,  he  left  it,  and  obtained  assistance 
by  wagons  from  place  to  place,  till  he  came  within  twelve 
miles  of  his  residence.  He  was  now  obliged  to  take  his 
horse's  back ;  and  he  thus  describes  the  remainder  of  his 
journey :  '  Lashed  my  buffalo  on  my  horse's  back,  and  took 
the  saddlebags  and  rode  on.  Tried  in  several  places  to  bor- 
row a  saddle,  but  did  not  succeed.  [He  had  now  probably 
reached  a  forest  of  some  length,  through  which  the  road  lay]. 
Twisted  some  withes,  and  laid  across  her  back,  with  a  place 
in  each  end  for  my  feet,  instead  of  stirrups,  aqd  then  rode  on 
quite  comfortably.'  Being  a  pioneer  in  the  forest  on  his  first 
setting  out  in.  life,  he  had  learnt  the  use  of  this  indispensable 
help  to  a  back-woods-man  ;  and  sometimes,  in  after  years,  he 
practised  upon  the  lessons  which  earlier  necessity  had  taught 
him.  Occasionally,  when  other  means  of  remedying  a  defect 
were  not  at  hand,  his  sleigh  or  wagon  was  graced  with  some 
of  these  adornments.  A  friend  opce  meeting  him  when  he  had 


1834.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL. 

drawn  upon  this  resource  of  the  forest,  and  casting  his  eye 
over  the  infirm  vehicle  in  which  he  sat,  humorously  asked, 
'  Father  Sevvall,  what  keeps  your  carriage  together  ?  Faith  ?  ' 
'  Not  without  works,'  was  the  grave  reply.  The  feeling  which, 
for  want  of  ready  means,  with  his  indifference  to  external 
appearance,  led  him  sometimes  to  use  a  carriage  which  most 
would  have  laid  by,  is  seen  in  the  following,  of  a  few  weeks 
later  date.  Having  to  borrow  money  to  pay  a  debt  which 
was  larger  than  he  anticipated,  he  said,  '  I  sometimes  make  it 
a  subject  of  prayer  that  I  may  be  able  to  square  with  the 
world  before  I  die,  so  as  not  to  die  in  debt  to  any  fellow 
creature.  But  to  live  in  debt  to  my  Maker  I  always  expect, 
and  to  die  in  debt,  and  to  be  in  debt  to  all  eternity ;  and  as 
tiiis  will  glorify  my  great  Creditor,  I  shall  be  content  to  have 
it  so.' 

The  idea  of  God's  being  a  creditor  seems  to  have  suggested 
to  him,  (a  few  years  after  this.)  rather  a  humorous  turn,  which 
may  possibly  suggest  to  the  reader  a  reason  for  acquiescing 
in  adverse  events.  While  on  a  mission  up  the  Penobscot, 
his  horse  suddenly  died.  He  bought  another  which  happened 
very  nearly  to  resemble  the  one  he  had  lost.  On  his  return, 
he  called  on  a  friend  somewhat  observant  of  horses,  on  whom 
he  had  called  in  his  outward  journey.  The  friend  inquired, 
'  Where  is  the  horse  you  had  when  here  last  ? '  'Is  not  that 
the  one  ? '  was  asked  in  reply.  '  No,'  said  the  man ;  and 
repeated  the  inquiry.  '  Taken  for  debt ! '  was  the  answer. 
This  roused  a  curiosity  somewhat  tinctured  with  indignation  ; 
and  the  friend  wished  to  know  who  could  be  guilty  of  such  an 
act  as  taking  his  horse.  He  told  him  that  it  was  for  a  debt 
of  considerable  standing  ;  and  after  keeping  him  in  suspense 
a  few  moments,  replied  that  it  was  '  a  debt  of  gratitude  which 
he  had  owed  to  God  for  many  years.  The  owner  of  the 
horse  had  not  seen  him  sufficiently  thankful  for  the  loan,  and 
had  retaken  it.' 

The  remainder  of  the  year,  he  labored  in  Chesterville  and 


320  MEMOIR  OP  [1834. 

other  towns  in  the  vicinity,  taking  one  journey  as  far  as  the 
Penobscot.  We  pass  to  its  close  with  one  quotation  from  his 
diary.  It  is  respecting  a  lecture  in  Knox,  and  the  subsequent 
events  of  the  same  day.  '  Preached  in  the  forenoon  from 
Judges  3:  20,  and  had  a  most  solemn  time  in  delivering  God's 
message  to  my  fellow-creatures.  Felt  like  a  dying  man, 
making  his  last  effort  to  discharge  duty,  and  clear  his  skirts 
of  the  blood  of  others.  O,  may  I  be  enabled  to  give  up  a 
comfortable  account  at  last  of  this  season  ;  and  O,  to  meet 
some  at  the  right  hand  as  a  consequence  of  diis  effort !  But 
this  I  must  leave  with  God.  Went  on  to  Clinton  village. 
Before  getting  to  Albion  corner,  missed  my  way,  and  felt 
quite  unreconciled  about  it,  and  disposed  to  murmur  at  those 
who  inscribed  the  guide-board,  and  those  who  directed  me.  I 
have  reason  to  be  ashamed,  after  such  a  solemn  season,  to 
indulge  such  feelings.  Not  to  realize  God's  hand  in  the 
thing,  is  shameful  and  wicke^.  Tried  to  confess  it  to  God, 
and  to  be  thankful  that,  notwithstanding,  I  reached  Clinton 
seasonably.  Preached  in  the  evening  from  Lk.  18:13,"  God 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  and  had  a  pretty  good  season.' 

Near  the  close  of  December,  he  started  for  a  mission  in 
Washington  county.  On  the  last  day  of  the  year,  he  wit- 
nessed at  Bangor  the  examination  and  licensing  of  his  young- 
est son,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
there.  / 

His  labors  in  Washington  county  were  confined  principally 
to  its  new  and  destitute  parts.  Except  a  few  weeks  in  the 
spring,  which  he  spent  about  home,  this  mission  occupied  him 
till  near  the  close  of  June.  In  passing  through  Sullivan,  he 
found  the  little  church,  which  he  assisted  in  gathering  in  1801, 
much  reduced.  Nine  had  been  removed  by  death,  and  three 
had  removed  to  other  places,  Cleaving  only  one  male  and  five 
or  six  female  members.  <  So  (he  says)  God  deals  in  his  sove- 
reign pleasure ;  and  who  shall  say  to  him,"  What  doest  thou ?" ' 
Here  he  spent  a  Sabbath  and  preached,  and  gathered  the  lit- 


1835.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  321 

tie  remnant  around  the  table  of  their  Lord,  and  administered 
to  them  the  emblems  of  his  dying  love. 

The  remainder  of  the  year,  till  near  its  close,  he  labored 
principally  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence.  On  the  19th  of 
August,  he  assisted  in  the  installation  of  his  son-in-law,  Rev. 
Mr.  Chapman,  at  Camden ;  and,  on  the  4th  of  November,  in 
the  dedication  of  a  house  of  worship  and  the  installation  of  Rev. 
J.  N.  Whipple,  at  Dixmont. 

Being  so  much  absent  from  his  pastoral  charge,  and  com- 
paring the  results  of  his  labors  as  pastor  and  as  missionary, 
he  became  satisfied  that  the  interests  of  the  church  at  Ches- 
terville  required  the  dissolution  of  the  relation  which  he  had 
sustained  toward  it  for  fifteen  years.  He  gave  them  his  views, 
and  requested  dismission  ;  which,  by  the  advice  of  a  mutual 
council,  was  granted  on  the  18th  of  November. 

Soon  after  this,  he  left,  to  enter  upon  a  mission  in  Houlton. 
The  arrangements  and  preparations  for  leaving,  somewhat  un- 
fitted him  for  the  duties  of  "  Thanksgiving  day,"  which  came 
just  at  this  time.  On  this  he  remarks,  'I  love  to  spend 
Tlianksgiving  and  Fast  days  in  such  a  manner  that  it  shall 
seem  like  the  Sabbath  ;  and  the  next  day,  through  the  sanc- 
tity of  its  influence,  shall  seem  like  Monday. 

In  passing  to  the  field  of  his  labor,  he  assisted  in  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  at  Knox.  Here  we  will  give  a  brief  extract 
from  his  journal.  '  Attended  the  prayer  meeting  and  had  a 
most  melting  season  in  prayer  for  some  individuals.  Seemed 
to  take  hold  of  the  pillars  of  God's  faithfulness,  and  take  his 
promises  in  pledge  for  the  answer.  Preached  afterwards 
from  Ps.  81: 12,  "So  I  gave  them  up,"  etc.  Had  a  solemn 
season.  Felt  the  danger  that  myself  and  others  have  been  in, 
while  unconverted,  of  being  given  up  to  destruction,  and  that 
it  was  owing  only  to  sovereign  mercy  that  we  had  not  thus 
been  treated.  Felt  the  danger  that  poor  sinners  are  now  in 
o£being  given  up  of  God,  and  the  necessity  there  is  of  minis- 
ters and  Christians  using  efforts  for  their  salvation,  and  pray- 


322  MEMOIR   OP  [1S30. 

ing  much  for  them.'  The  next  day,  it  was  concluded  to  move 
the  meeting  to  Freedom ;  and  of  a  little  private  meeting 
which  he  enjoyed  with  two  other  ministers,  he  says :  'Again  I 
got  near  to  God  in  pleading  for  a  blessing  to  attend  the  meet- 
ing, that  God  would  move  on  the  valley  of  dry  bones,  and 
spread  spiritual  life  through  all  this  valley  of  death,  call  at 
every  dwelling  with  the  cup  of  mercy,  and  serve  every  family 
with  the  waters  of  salvation,  and  cause  many  altars  of  wor- 
ship to  be  erected  in  houses  where  now  the  voice  of  prayer  is 
not  heard.' 

He  reached  Houlton,  some  hundred  and  twenty  miles  north- 
east from  Bangor,  before  the  middle  of  December,  and  com- 
menced his  labors.  The  first  day  of  January  he  observed  as 
a  day  of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  Of  this  he  says,  '  Spread 
many  important  things  before  God  with  a  degree  of  importu- 
nity which  I  hope  was  accepted.  Particularly,  besought  God 
to  make  me  fruitful  in  old  age,  in  the  conversion  of  souls.' 
He  was  now  sev.enty-six  years  old.  And  here  it  is  not  amiss 
to  say  that  he  was  as  active  as  most  at  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
younger,  and  performed  nearly  the  amount  of  ministerial  labor 
which  he  had  done  in  earlier  days.  Many  times,  within  a  few 
years  past,  we  find  him  preaching  four  times  on  the  Sabbath, 
particularly  in  his  mission  on  the  Penobscot  in  1833.  There, 
beside  other  instances,  we  find  him  doing  this  three  Sabbaths 
in  succession.  While  at  home,  indeed,  when  engaging  in  some 
of  the  more  laborious  kinds  of  manual  labor,  he  found  that  his 
physical  powers  faltered.  A  reflection  which  he  made  on 
having  fatigued  himself  in  hay-making,  the  last  summer,  may 
not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader.  '  Went  to  bed  quite  wea- 
ried. Had  some  scruples  whether  I  did  right  in  taking  the 
scythe.  It  made  my  rest  disturbed.  I  ought  not  to  do  any- 
thing to  injure  the  body,  which,  if  I  am  really  a  Christian,  is 
the  temple  of  God' 

The  first  Monday  in  the  year  had  been  proposed  by  Chijis- 
tians  in  England  and  in  this  country,  to  be  observed  as  a  day 


1836.]  JOT  HAM    SEW  ALL.  32$ 

of  fasting  and  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  and  the 
conversion  of  the  world.  He  succeeded  in  collecting  a  few 
Christians  in  a  private  house  for  this  purpose.  After  sketch- 
ing the  manner  in  which  the  time  was  occupied,  he  says: 
'  The  season,  to  me,  was  peculiarly  solemn.  In  confessing  sin, 
at  the  opening  of  the  meeting,  I  was  much  melted ;  and,  in  the 
close,  giving  thanks,  my  whole  soul  was  drawn  out  to  God  for 
Zion,  and,  in  particular,  for  his  cause  in  this  place.  Read  the 
49th  chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  sung  the  hymn, 

'  Now  shall  my  inward  joys  arise,' 

etc.,  and  was  much  moved  at  the  consideration  of  the  unspeak 
able  compassion  of  God  to  his  church  and  people,  in  its  being 
compared  to  the  affection  of  a  tender  mother  toward  her  infant 
offspring,  and  the  assurance  given  that  it  is  still  more  strong 
and  unyielding.  Wept  much,  while  offering  the  last  prayer, 
and  rejoiced  that  the  cause  of  God  will  advance,  let  what  may 
obstruct  its  progress ;  for,  strong  is  the  Lord  God,  who  has 
pledged  all  his  power,  benevolence,  and  faithfulness  for  this.' 
In  this  region  he  remained  till  the  last  of  March,  laboring 
principally  in  Houlton  and  Monticello  (still  farther  north), 
journeying,  visiting,  and  preaching  more  or  less  in  the  vicin- 
ity. The  field  which  he  thus  cultivated  did  not  afford  so 
much  promise  of  a  spiritual  harvest  as  he  could  have  desired. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  time,  he  thus  speaks  of  Houlton,  (it 
was  on  the  Sabbath,  and  the  meetings  had  been  small),  '•Ap- 
pearances of  doing  good  in  this  place  are  very  discouraging. 
I  have  had  very  strong  desires  to  be  made  the  means  of  good 
to  some  souls  here,  and  have  sometimes  felt  that  I  could  take 
no  denial.  I  know  that  God  is  a  sovereign  and  omnipotent, 
and  can  easily  turn  the  proudest,  hardest  heart.'  He  empha- 
sized the  word  <  appearances,'  knowing  that  his  expectations 
should  not  be  graduated  entirely  by  these:  and  hence,  while 
he  speaks  further  of  'discouraged  feelings,'  he  adds,  'Still 
hung  upon  the  arm  of  Almighty  mercy  for  a  blessing.' 


324  MEMOIR    OF  '    [1836 

Among  the  inhabitants,  and  among  the  United  States'  troops 
stationed  here  at  this  time,  he  found  pious  persons.  But  some 
of  the  professors  of  religion  who  had  wandered  into  this  new 
and  distant  region,  had  laid  aside  family,  and  to  some  extent, 
private  devotion.  To  find  such  instability,  and  departure  from 
duty,  in  those  who  had  named  the  name  of  Christ,  was  pecu- 
liarly painful  to  him,  —  as  the  following  record  shows  :  '  Called 
on  Mr. TV ,  and  was  grieved  to  find  that  he  still*  neglect- 
ed family-prayer,  and  did  not  always  pray  in  secret.  I  prayed 

with   him,  and  then  called   on  a  Mr.  D C .    He 

and  his  wife  are  Baptist  professors ;  and  yet  he  has  neglected 
family-prayer  for  years !  Prayed  there,  —  and  afterwards,  go- 
ing through  the  woods,  cried  aloud  to  God  with  many  tears, 
that  he  would  have  compassion  on  these  prayerless  Christians, 
and  stir  them  up  to  take  hold  of  mercy  afresh.'  In  the  course 
of  his  ministry,  we  find  many  instances  of  his  thus  crying  to- 
God,  in  retired  places  while  journeying,  in  behalf  of  persons 
or  objects  for  which  he  felt  a  deep  interest ;  and  they  show 
the  earnestness  of  his  spirit.  A  few  days  after  this,  he  found 
a  change  in  the  habits  dF  the  former  of  these  men,  which  re- 
joiced him  much  ;  and  he  said,  '  I  could  not  help  thinking 
that  my  prayers  for  him  last  Tuesday  were  answered.  Hope 
he  will  not  again  lay  aside  the  duty.  Talked  with  him  on  the 
subject  before  retiring.  O  what  reason  have  I  to  be  thankful ! ' 

His  faithfulness  in  visiting  the  sick  is  seen  in  the  following 

incident,  which  here  occurred.    At  the  house  of  esquire  T , 

who  was  not  a  believer  in  Divine  revelation,  was  a  brother- 
in-law,  extremely  sick.  The  opposition  which  some  of  the 
relatives  would  evidently  feel  to  the  reception  of  a  visit,  to- 
gether with  the  opinion  of  some  that  he  had  better  not  attempt 
it,  tried  him  somewhat.  He  considered  the  thing,  and  lifted 
up  his  heart  to  God  for  guidance,  and  resolved  to  go.  He 
was  kindly  received  by  the  master  of  the  house  who,  however, 
frankly  told  him  that,  in  his  opinion,  it  was  not  best  that  he 

*  He  had  before  conversed  with  him  on  the  subject. 


1836.J  JOTHAM     SEWALL.  325 

should  see  the  sick  man,  as  it  might  occasion  him  unnecessary 
pain.  But,  on  inquiry  of  others  who  were  concerned,  he 
pleasantly  acknowledged  himself  overruled,  and  consented 
that  he  should  go  in.  He  found  him  unable  to  converse, 
and  made  a  few  remarks  and  offered  prayer,  and  retired.  He 
says,  '  I  felt  very  ardent  desires  for  his  recovery  or  conver- 
sion. Besought  God,  also,  for  the  conversion  of  his  brother- 
in-law  and  wife.  Felt  as  if  I  must  have  some  one,  either 
the  dead  or  the  living,  (viewing  the  sick  man  as  near  the 
dead,  and  as  if  already  gone).  With  him  who  is  able  to  save, 
I  leave  my  petitions.'  On  the  evening  of  that  day,  of  his 
private  devotions  he  says,  '  Read  the  Ixxxiv.  Psalm,  and  was 
struck  with  the  expression,  "  No  good  thing  will  he  withhold 
from  them  that  walk  uprightly."  Although  I  do  not  "  walk 
uprightly"  as  I  should,  yet,  in  the  main,  could  not  but  think 
that  the  description  might  be  applicable.  Then  pleaded  that 

it  would  be  a  "  good  thing"  to  have  esquire  T converted. 

Wrestled  to  an  agony  that  this  "good  thing"  might  not  be 
withheld,  but  be  granted  in  answer  to  my  requests.  If  this 
could  be  done,  how  would  his  aged  mother*  rejoice  and  praise 
God  for  hearing  prayer ;  and  how  would  Christians  here,  re- 
joice at  such  a  display  of  Divine  grace ;  and  how  would  the 
heavenly  hosts  rejoice,  and  praise  God ! '  The  same  earnest- 
ness for  these  persons  characterized  his  devotions  the  next 
day.  The  day  following,  a  Christian  friend  informed  him 
that  the  sick  man's  physician  had  given  him  over.  He  pro- 
posed to  that  friend  to  unite  in  prayer  for  him ; '  and  a  solemn, 
melting  season  (he  says),  we  had.  As  the  physician  of  his 
body  had  given  him  over,  besought  the  Great  Physician  to 
undertake  for  him,  and  take  him  as  his  patient.  Did  long 
and  wrestle  for  him,  especially  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul ;  and 
also  for  the  salvation  of  his  brother-in-law  and  wife.'  His  re- 
quests were  at  least  so  far  granted,  that  the  sick  man,  whom  he 
repeatedly  visited,  recovered. 

*  Of  Bradford,  Vt. 
28 


326  MEMO1KOF  ,    "[1836. 

With  the  notice  of  his  taking  leave  of  the  people  at  Mon- 
ticello,  we  must  close  our  remarks  on  this  mission.  '  Preached 
in  the  evening,  from  Heb.  13 :  7,  "  Let  brotherly  love  con- 
tinue ;"  and  had  a  most  solemn,  interesting  season.  Charged 
the  Christians  to  love  one  another ;  and  charged  the  uncon- 
verted, in  the  fear  and  name  of  the  Lord,  to  give  their  hearts 
to  him,  and  love  him,  and  love  his  children.  Warned  them 
all,  as  from  my  death-bed,  thinking  it  not  probable  that  I 
should  ever  see  them  again.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon, 
I  asked  the  Christians  around  me,  if  brotherly  love  should 
continue  ?  They  all  seemed  desirous  for  this,  and  resolved 
that,  as  far  as  it  lay  in  their  power — the  Lord  helping  them, 
it  should.  I  then  commended  them  all  to  God,  through 
Christ,  and  took  my  leave.  Felt  afterward  as  if  I  had,  in 
some  measure,  done  my  duty  as  the  Lord  would  have  me ; 
and  it  seemed  to  be  a  season  worth  coming  all  the  way  from 
home  for.'  This  appears  to  have  been  his  closing  message 
there. 

The  subject  on  which  he  addressed  them  was  intended  to 
have  a  particular  practical  bearing.  On  his  return,  he  found 
interesting  revivals  in  Brewer  and  Bangor.  In  the  latter 
place  he  says,  on  Tuesday,  'Seventeen  had  indulged  hope 
since  last  Friday  evening.  Passing  through  Garland,  he  as- 
sisted Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer  (eighty  years  old  the  previous  Octo- 
ber), in  a  protracted  meeting.  He  spent  a  Sabbath  in  Fox- 
croft,  where  he  speaks  of  forty  (some  said  sixty),  cases  of 
hopeful  conversion  had  recently  occurred. 

After  spending  a  short  time  about  home,  he  labored  a  num- 
ber of  weeks  in  Sidney. 

He  always  made  it  a  point  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Maine  State  Conference.  This  year  it  was  held  at  Augusta. 
At  a  morning  prayer-meeting,  a  note  was  passed  to  him  by 
'  professing  sisters,'  requesting  prayer  '  for  the  conversion  of  a 
brother.'  The  parties  he  knew;  and  being  called  upon  to 
pray,  he  presented  the  case  with  great  earnestness,  and  then, 


1836.]  JOTHAM     SKWALL.  327 

as  it  were  to  clench  the  argument,  closed  his  plea  emphatically 
with  the  expression, '  that  it  may  be  known  that  ITiou  art  a 
hearer  and  answerer  of  prayer!'  Says  one  of  the  persons 
concerned  in  presenting  that  note:  'Time  passed  on,  —  the 
individual  in  question  became  hopefully  pious,  and  made  pro- 
fession of  religion ;  and  when  that  body  met  in  that  place 
again,  appeared  as  a  delegate  from  one  of  the  county  con- 
ferences.'* 

Soon  after  the  meeting  of  the  conference,  he  went  into 
"Washington  county,  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  year.  His  la- 
bors were  mostly  confined  to  Whitneyville  and  Northfield, 
near  Machias.  These  were  then  new  places.  The  latter 
was  then  an  unincorporated  plantation,  (No.  24)  ;  and  the 
road  was  so  bad  when  he  first  visited  it,  that  he  was  obliged 
to  leave  his  wagon  and  take  a  saddle.  He  speaks  of  the  bad 
pole  bridges  which  he  had  to  pass,  and  his  cause  of  thankful- 
ness that  he  was  not  thrown  from  his  horse,  at  the  expense  of 
limbs  or  life,  in  that  uninhabited  part  of  the  road.  His  earn- 
estness of  desire  for  a  blessing  upon  his  labors  here,  is  seen  in 
a  record  made  after  a  lecture,  at  the  commencement  of  his 
labors.  '  Oh,  for  good  to  be  done  to  souls.  If  the  Lord  would 
only  give  me  one  soitl,  O  what  a  favor,  —  far  greater  than  to 
have  bestowed  upon  me  the  whole  world,  or  ten  thousand 
worlds.  In  prayer,  as  well  as  preaching,  felt  a  solemn  near- 
ness to  God,  and,  I  hope,  a  solemn  confidence  in  him  as  a 
hearer  of  prayer.'  At  another  time,  we  find  him  pleading 
with  God  along  the  road  to  a  lecture,  'for  assistance,  and  some 
souls'  in  the  place,  '  as  his  hire,'  —  and  the  next  morning,  in 
secret  prayer,  telling  God  that  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  live, 
unless  he  would  give  him  '  success  in  winning  souls  to  Christ.' 

We  give  a  few  extracts  from  his  diary  during  his  labors 

*  In  a  number  of  instances  afterwards,  we  find  him  praying  with 
much  earnestness  for  this  person ;  and,  in  one,  expressing  the  hope, 
that,  as  his  requests  had  been  granted  for  other  members  of  the  same 
family  who  had  become  pious,  they  would  be  in  this. 


828  MEMOIR    OF  ,     [1836. 

here.  The  first  follows  an  evening  lecture,  in  which  he  had 
enjoyed  a  comfortable  season.  '  In  secret  I  returned  thanks 
to  God  for  affording  me  the  opportunity  this  evening  of 
speaking  for  him.  It  is  a  privilege,  from  the  enjoyment  I 
have  in  speaking  for  God  and  the  assistance  afforded.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  that  he  ever  called  me  to  this  work.  The  Apos- 
tle could  say,  "  He  counted  me  faithful,  putting  me  into  the 
Ministry."  Can  it  be  possible  that  the  Lord  saw  or  counted 
me  faithful?  Could  this  be  the  least  reason  that  he  put  me 
into  the  Ministry  ?  Oh,  that  he  would  help  me  to  be  faithful : 
and,  Oh,  to  be  made  successful ;  —  not  to  the  feeding  of  my 
pride,  but  to  the  showing  forth  of  his  glory.  He  can  make 
a  worm  the  instrument  of  setting  forth  his  perfections :  and 
I  have  reason  to  rejoice  that  he  can  use  such  an  unworthy 
instrument  as  myself  to  manifest  his  glory.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord.' 

The  next  was  after  an  evening  lecture.  '  Had  a  pretty 
good  meeting ;  but  not  equal  to  the  last  evening  and  the  eve- 
ning before.  Then  I  had  a  more  solemn  and  feeling  sense 
of  the  Holiness  and  Majesty  of  God,  and  an  awful  sense  of 
the  retributions  of  eternity,  and  the  worth  of  souls.  Oh,  such 
feelings  should  always  exist  when  I  am  engaged  in  such  sol- 
emn work  as  carrying  on  a  treaty  of  peace  between  God  and 
man.' 

The  next  refers  to  some  struggle  with  inward  or  outward 
sin,  the  particulars  of  which  he  does  not  specify.  It  follows 
confession  and  supplication  in  private.  '  Instead  of  sins  be- 
ing the  death  of  me,  I  ought,  and,  with  Divine  assistance, 
will  be  the  death  of  sin.  Through  the  meritorious  righteous- 
ness and  atoning  blood  of  the  Dear  Redeemer,  I  shall  come 
off  conqueror,  and  more  than  conqueror  at  last,  and  join  the 
song  of  the  ransomed,  "  Salvation  to  our  God  which  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  ;  "  "  For  thou  wast  slain, 
and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood."  There  is  no 
other  alternative  than  singing  this  song,  or  joining  in  the  in- 


1836.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  329 

sufferable  groans  and  agonies  of  the  damned  !  To  this  dole- 
ful state  I  have  been  tending  by  sin.  To  the  other  blessed 
state  I  can  only  be  raised  by  the  mercy  of  my  redeeming 
God.' 

Another :  '  I  retired  several  times  into  the  wood  near  by, 
to  pray ;  and  there  wrestled  for  spiritual  mercies ;  and,  among 
other  things,  pleaded  hard  for  my  unconverted  grand-chil- 
dren. Oh,  that  they  may  become  members  of  the  household 
of  faith  before  I  die.'  A  private  fast  which  he  observed,  in 
which,  among  much  else  which  is  interesting,  he  particular- 
ized, with  much  earnestness,  his  children  and  children's  chil- 
dren, we  must  pass  over. 

The  following,  which  was  occasioned  by  reading  in  the  book 
of  Esther  with  Henry's  annotations,  during  which  he  was 
much  impressed  with  her  resolution  to  go  to  the  king,  we  are 
unwilling  to  omit.  '  I  begged  earnestly  of  the  Lord  that  he 
would  reach  out  the  golden  sceptre  to  me,  and  grant  me  my 
requests  for  my  kindred  and  the  church  in  Chesterville.  The 
old  adversary  is  meditating  their  ruin,  as  Haman  was  that  of 
the  Jews  ;  and  as  his  plot  was  overthrown,  and  the  Jews  deliv- 
ered, entreated  that  the  devices  of  the  devil  might  be  over- 
thrown, and  souls  saved,  and  the  church  delivered.  Earn- 
estly besought  the  Lord,  as  he  was  so  much  more  merciful 
than  any  earthly  potentate,  to  grant  my  request.  Urged  my 
petition,  not  simply  to  half  the  kingdom,  but  for  the  whole  of 
it.  Poor  souls  must  have  all  that  God  can  bestow !  The 
constitution  which  he  has  given  forbids  that  any  thing  less 
than  this  should  satisfy  them.' 

It  would  be  happy  for  the  church  if  all  her  members  re- 
garded themselves  as  identified  with  her  interests,  and  all 
their  words  and  actions  as  tending  to  bring  a  blight  or  a  bless- 
ing upon  her,  and  as  bearing  upon  the  weal  or  woe  of  immor- 
tal souls.  The  following  extracts,  (as  do  others  which  have 
been  made,)  show  his  feelings  on  this  point.  'A  word  which 
I  spoke  unadvisedly  gave  me  much  uneasiness.  Such  small 

28* 


330  MEMOIR    OF  [1837. 

things  may  prejudice  the  minds  of  the  unconverted,  and  occa- 
sion their  eternal  undoing.  I  cried  to  the  Lord  in  secret  to 
prevent  such  an  awful  evil.  It  is  humiliating  to  think  that  I 
am  so  sinfully  imperfect,  that  I  may  be  the  means  of  destroy- 
ing souls,  instead  of  saving  them.'  The  next  morning  he 
prayed  for  an  opportunity  to  ask  forgiveness.  As  soon  as  he 
left  his  chamber  an  opportunity  offered,  and  the  thing  was 
done.  '  But,  (he  adds,)  it  is  possible  that  I  shall  never  ap- 
pear in  the  eyes  of  that  person  as  I  did  before.  Whenever  I 
am  thought  of,  this  impropriety  will  present  itself,  and  mar  all. 
"Well,  it  is  of  no  consequence  what  becomes  of  my  reputa- 
tion, although  I  ought  to  be  very  careful  of  it  for  the  sake  of 
Christ's  cause.  Only  let  souls  be  saved  and  God  be  glorified, 
and  all  will  be  well.' 

On  the  15th  of  September  he  assisted  in  organizing  a 
church  of  six  members  at  Northfield.  He  afterward  re- 
ceived a  few  others,  and,  on  the  following  Sabbath,  adminis- 
tered to  it  the  Lord's  Supper.  This  was  said  to  be  the  first 
time  that  the  ordinance  had  been  administered  in  the  place. 
On  the  7th  of  December  he  also  assisted  in  gathering  a 
church  of  six  members  in  "Whitneyville. 

While  laboring  here,  he  visited  and  preached  in  many 
other  destitute  places  in  the  county,  passing  over,  also,  to 
New  Brifnswick.  On  one  of  these  excursions,  he  assisted  in 
the  ordination  of  Rev.  Wm.  Davenport,  at  Perry.  This  oc- 
curred October  19th.  The  26th  of  November  found  him 
mourning  over  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  then  Sec- 
retary of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  who  departed  this 
life  on  the  loth  of  that  month. 

The  former  part  of  1837,  he  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
residence,  laboring  here  and  there  in  destitute  places,  and  as- 
sisting some  of  his  brethren  who  were  enjoying  the  outpour- 
ings of  the  Spirit  upon  their  people.  The  fact  of  having 
been  dismissed  from  the  church  in  Chesterville  seemed  to 


1837.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  331 

increase,  rather  than  diminish,  the  interest  he  felt  in  its  wel- 
fare. Its  members  were  now  like  sheep  upon  the  mountains, 
having  no  shepherd  :  and  frequently  do  we  find  him  remem- 
bering it  with  much  earnestness  at  the  throne  of  grace.  And 
he  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  that  the  Good  Shepherd  took 
care  of  it.  On  the  15th  of  March  he  assisted  in  ordaining 
his  youngest  son  as  its  pastor.  His  hand  was  laid  upon  his 
head  while  another  led  in  the  consecrating  prayer ;  and  then 
he  charged  him,  with  the  solemnity  of  Paul  to  his  own  son 
Timothy,  to  be  faithful  to  the  trust  committed  to  him. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  he  labored,  under  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  in  Prov- 
incetown  on  Cape  Cod.  This  town,  which  is  the  northern- 
most on  the  Cape,  appears  to  have  been  somewhat  of  a  moral 
desolation.  For  some  time,  the  stated  means  of  grace  had 
not  been  enjoyed,  religion  was  low,  and  error  abounded.  He 
entered  this  field  near  the  close  of  August.  An  extract  or 
two  from  his  diary  will  show  how  earnestly  he  desired  and 
sought  the  blessing  of  God  on  his  labors.  The  first  day  of 
September  had  been  recommended,  by  the  General  Associa- 
tion of  Massachusetts,  to  be  observed  by  the  Churches  as  a 
season  of  fasting  and  prayer  '  for  the  union  of  Christians,  the 
more  plentiful  effusion  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  Divine  direction 
and  blessing  in  political  affairs.'  As  no  arrangements  had 
there  been  made  for  such  an  observance  of  the  day,  and  as 
he  did  not  arrive  in  season  to  consult  the  members  of  the 
church  and  gather  them  for  the  purpose ;  he  observed  the 
day  by  himself.  This  gave  him  the  opportunity  of  being 
more  particular,  and  embracing  a  greater  number  of  subjects, 
than  would  have  been  proper  in  social  worship.  '  I  had,  (he 
says,)  a  number  of  things  of  my  own  that  I  wished  to  spread 
before  God,  which  I  did  with  much  importunity.  Not  for- 
getting the  Church  and  pastor  at  Chesterville,  I  particular- 
ized my  wife,  and  children,  and  grand-children,  with  much 
earnestness.  Besought  the  Lord  to  direct  and  help  me  ir 


832  MEMOIR  OF 

this  place.  Oh,  to  be  the  instrument  of  raising  up  the  foun- 
dations of  many  generations,  and  the  restoring  of  paths  to 
dwell  in.  Had  a  solemn,  good  season.'  At  another  time,  in 
anticipation  of  an  evening  lecture,  we  find  him  retiring  to  a 
school-house,  and  there  pouring  out  his  soul  before  God. 
1  Entreated  help  this  evening,  and  while  preaching  in  this 
place.  Oh,  for  some  fruit,  if  it  is  but  one  soul.  That,  if  he 
pleased,  he  could  give  me  this  evening.  Oh,  that  he  would. 
Why  not  now,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel  ? '  He  preached  to  a 
full  and  attentive  assembly,  and  had  a  solemn  time  to  his  own 
soul.  'How  easily,  (he  says,)  the  Lord  could  carry  home 
the  word  to  some  poor  straying  sinner,  and  make  it  effectual 
to  his  conviction  and  salvation.' 

He  lectured  frequently,  and  visited  much  from  house  to 
house :  and  now  the  habit  of  praying  at  such  times  appears 
to  have  become  more  common  than  formerly.  His  meetings, 
on  week-days  and  on  the  Sabbath,  were  generally  full,  and 
his  hearers  attentive  and  apparently  interested.  The  im- 
pression which  he  made  upon  the  minds  of  the  people  was 
so  favorable,  that,  at  the  end  of  a  three-months'  mission,  the 
Society  which  employed  him  was  anxious  that  he  should 
add  another  of  the  same  length.  To  this,  as  it  appeared  to 
be  duty,  he  with  some  reluctance  consented.  And  though  no 
general  revival  resulted  from  his  labors,  they  appear  to  have 
been  blessed  to  the  conversion  of  some  souls.  He  gathered 
a  few  persons  into  the  church ;  and,  when  he  left,  another 
minister  appears  to  have  taken  the  ground. 

The  following  incident,  which  occurred  during  his  label's 
here,  shows  how  his  mind  turned  trifling  events  to  spiritual 
account.  On  coming  to  a  school-house  where  he  had  a  lec- 
ture appointed,  the  door  was  found  locked.  The  messenger 
who  went  for  the  key,  returned  with  the  word  that  the  mis- 
tress lost  it  on  her  way  home.  Another  was  procured,  and 
the  house  opened.  'The  event,  (he  says,)  produced  strong 
aspirations  of  soul  that  the  Lord  would  produce  his  key,  and 


3827.]  JOTHAM    8EWALL.  333 

open  the  hearts  of  the  impenitent  to  receive  the  truth.  He 
can  make  the  bolts  of  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart  give 
back,  and  the  sinner  himself  be  willing  to  open  to  Christ.' 

The  following  illustrates  the  high  degree  in  which  he  pos- 
sessed the  spirit  of  adoption,  and  the  childlike  simplicity  and 
freedom  with  which  he  came  to  God  with  his  wants,  and  re- 
minded him  of  his  promises.  This,  indeed,  as  all  who  knew 
him  are  aware,  was  a  marked  trait  in  his  Christian  character. 
'  Attended  to  sunset  *  and  other  seasons  of  evening  devotion 
with  interest.  Did  long  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  with  me 
for  my  own  sanctification,  and  to  make  my  labors  effectual 
here.  Reminded  my  gracious  Lord  of  the  encouragement, 
that  he  is  more  ready  to  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that 
ask  him  than  earthly  parents  are  to  give  good  things  to  their 
children ;  and  that  here  was  one  of  his  needy  children,  and 
dependant  and  needy  ministers,  crying  for  the  Holy  Spirit  as 
the  only  blessing  that  will  relieve  him. 

A  record  made  after  enjoying  a  delightful  season  in  family- 
prayer,  shows  his  deep  sense  of  personal  unworthiness  and 
ill-desert,  and  how  highly  he  valued  the  privilege  of  prayer. 
'  Oh,  what  an  estimate  would  a  lost  soul.set  on  being  placed 
again  in  probation,  and  enjoying  the  favor  of  God  in  exchange 
for  his  eternal  frowns.  Here  am  I,  who  deserved  to  be  in 
hell,  on  probationary  ground,  and  "  under  hopes  of  heavenly 
grace,"  as  Milton  expresses  it.  What  obligation  I  am  under 
to  be  forever  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  God  of  all  my 
mercies.  As  to  personal  merit,  I  have  no  claim  to  anything 
better  than  all  the  horrors  of  endless  despair;  and  if  God 
should  take  a  condemned  spirit  from  the  lowest  regions  of 
misery,  and  plunge  me  into  his  place, — and  put  him  in  pos- 
session of  all  my  privileges  and  hopes  and  prospects  of  end- 
less conformity  to  God,  and  enjoyment  of  him  in  glory,  what 
could  I  say  against  the  justice  of  it?  Aside  from  his  cove- 
.  nant  faithfulness  and  his  promises  of  grace  to  his  regenerate 

*  Saturday  evening. 


MEMOIR     OF  ,      [1838. 

children,  there  would  be  no  wrong  done  to  me  in  the  awful 
exchange.  Oh,  if  ever  I  get  to  heaven,  what  reason  I  shall 
have  eternally  to  adore  the  SOVEREIGNTY  of  distinguishing 
GRACE!' 

While  here,  as  in  other  places,  we  find  him  possessing  a 
deep  anxiety,  and  presenting  many  earnest  prayers  for  the 
conversion  of  particular  persons  with  whom  he  became  ac- 
quainted. It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  him  wrestling  with 
much  importunity  in  their  behalf,  and  feeling  as  if  he  could 
not  be  denied.  And  if,  as  in  the  case  of  a  distinguished  family 
on  the  banks  of  the  Penobscot,*  —  which  has  been  remarka- 
bly blessed,  —  that  blessing,  as  one  of  the  family  said,  began 
in  the  fervency  of  his  supplications  for  it ;  another  day  may 
reveal  much  good  bestowed  on  persons  and  on  households  in 
this  sphere  of  his  labors, — in  answer  to  the  pleadings  of  his 
faith. 

A  few  weeks  after  closing  his  mission  in  Provincetown, 
(which  ended  with  February,  1838,)  he  commenced  laboring  in 
Harpswell,  Me.  The  Congregational  church  and  society 
here,  had  for  some  "years  been  destitute  of  stated  means  of 
grace,  and  needed  some  one  to  repair  the  breaches  which 
time  had  made.  His  advancing  years,  connected  as  they  were 
with  uncommon  measures  of  bodily  and  mental  vigor,  did  not 
disqualify  him  for  such  a  service.  The  churches  yet  held  his 
labors  in  high  esteem  ;  and  it  was  upon  an  application  from 
the  people  here  that  he  entered  this  field.  Here,  as  else- 
where, his  Master's  business  was  his  employ,  and  in  its  per- 
formance he  manifested  his  customary  diligence  and  zeal. 
Families,  whom  many  would  have  overlooked,  he  sought  out 
and  visited;  and  the  adjacent  islands  not  unfrequently  found 
him  upon  them,  calling  from  house  to  house,  and  lecturing 
where  the  voice  of  the  ministry  was  seldom  heard.  His  la- 
bors here  commenced  near  the  close  of  June,  and  with  a  few 

*  Gen.  John  Crosby,  of  Haropden. 


1838.]  J  O  T  H  A  AI    S  E  W  A  L  L .  335 

interruptions,  continued  till  past  the  middle  of  October.  With 
a  few  extracts  from  his  diary,  we  pass  over  this  period :  — 

'  July  8,  Sabbath.  Rose  in  the  night,  and  besought  the  assist- 
ance of  the  good  Spirit  in  the  public  services  of  the  day.  Did  the 
same  in  the  devotions  of  the  morning,  and  several  times  in  se- 
cret before  meeting.'  After  such  a  commencement  of  the  day, 
we  should  expect  (as  we  find),  that  in  preaching  and  adminis- 
tering the  Lord's  Supper,  and  in  his  evening  lecture,  he  had 
solemn  and  interesting  seasons.  The  associations  and  the 
facts,  however,  connected  with  the  place  where  he  spent  the 
night,  produced  some  melancholy  feelings.  The  house  had 
been  occupied  by  a  deacon  of  the  church  who  was  gone  to  his 
reward,  and  was  now  inhabited  by  a  son.  '  I  first  knew  it 
(lie  says),  fifty-six  years  ago.  But  oh,  how  changed  !  Neither 
the  son  nor  his  wife  profess  religion  ;  of  course,  there  is  no 
family  prayer  as  formerly  ;  and  he  is  rising  of  seventy  years 
old.  Did  long  that  the  house  might  become  again  a  house  of 
prayer.'  The  next  day  he  visited,  and  lectured  on  Orr's 
Island.  Here  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  some  fruit  of 
previous  labors.  A  widow  Reed  informed  him  that  her  hus- 
band was  awakened  by  a  lecture  he  preached  in  the  meeting- 
house, in  1816;*  that  he  publicly  professed,  and  honored 
religion  to  his  dying  day.  '  Oh,  (he  says,)  while  God  will 
have  all  the  glory,  what  a  privilege  it  will  be  if  I  may  meet 
some  in  heaven  who  were  brought  there  by  my  instru- 
mentality ! '  He  adds, '  A  Mr.  S ,  also,  told  me  that  his 

wife  obtained  her  first  evidence  under  my  preaching.' 

A  few  days  after  this,  he  read  an  account  of  the  liberation 
of  the  slaves  in  the  British  West  Indies,  which  occurred 
August  1,  1834.  This,  with  the  favorable  effects  of  the 
measure,  was  highly  gratifying  to  him.  He  was  deeply 
affected  with  the  expressions  of  gratitude  to  God  which  went 
up  to  heaven  from  the  full  hearts  of  those  the  bonds  of  whose 
thraldom  had  been  removed,  and  said,  '  I  did  long  and  pray 

*  While  he  was  laboring  in  the  revival  at  Brunswick. 


336  MEMOIR   OF"  ,     [1838. 

that  such  an  act  of  liberation  might  take  place  in  the  slave- 
holding  States  in  our  own  land,  and  that  such  a  jubilee  might 
be  sung  by  the  poor  oppressed  Africans  here.  May  He  who 
hears  the  sighings  of  the  prisoners  and  the  groans  of  the  op- 
pressed bring  it  about.  O,  that  it  may  be  accomplished 
soon ! '  This  is  by  no  means  the  first  time  that  he  had 
thought  and  prayed  for  the  slave.  He  had  sympathies  for 
the  oppressed,  and  had  a  tongue  to  speak,  when  occasion 
offered,  in  their  behalf.  His  views  were  not  radical ;  nor 
was  the  eye  of  his  mind  so  filled  with  '  the  one  idea'  that  he 
could  see  little  beside.  He  regarded  it  as  one  of  the  crying 
sins  of  the  land,  and  entreated  God,  in  behalf  of  his  country, 
and  in  behalf  of  those  whom  his  country  cruelly  oppressed. 
And  it  deserves  to  be  here  noticed,  that  a  few  years  pre- 
vious to  this;  when  a  convention  met  at  Portland  to  deliberate 
on  the  subject  of  emancipation,  he  spent  much  of  the  day  in 
private  prayer  to  God  that  its  doings  might  be  guided  and 
blessed.  And  in  connection  with  this,  it  may  be  proper  to 
remark,  that  he  was  a  fast  friend  of  the  Temperance  reform, 
and  discoursed  on  the  subject  in  many  places  where  he 
labored. 

The  following  shows,  what  we  have  had  occasion  before  to 
notice,  that  simply  intellectual  success  in  constructing  and 
delivering  sermons,  was  far  from  satisfying  him.  He  had 
earnestly  sought  assistance,  on  Sabbath  morning,  in  the 
public  duties  of  the  day,  and  had  enjoyed  it.  Of  a  lecture  in 
the  evening,  however,  he  says,  '  Enjoyed  liberty  in  speaking  ; 
but  felt  as  if  all  was  not  as  it  should  be.  Feared,  on  reflec- 
tion, that  I  had  depended  too  much  on  a  train  of  reasoning, 
and  not  enough  on  the  Lord.  Felt  quite  uncomfortable 
about  it.  O,  to  be  stripped  of  everything  but  naked  depen- 
dence on  the  Lord.  Had  some  struggle  before  meeting 
from  which  of  two  passages  to  speak  ;  and  had  some  misgiv- 
ing whether  I  did  right  in  changing  from  the  subject  which 
was  first  upon  my  mind.  This  drove  me  to  the  throne  of 


1838.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  337 

grace  for  pardon,  if  I  had  acted  injudiciously,  and  that  the 
good  cause  might  not  be  thereby  injured.' 

Before  closing  his  labors  at  Harpswell,  he  observed  a  day 
of  private  fasting  and  prayer.  As  the  circumstances,  in  one 
respect,  were  a  little  peculiar,  and  may  be  interesting  to  some 
to  be  known,  a  name  is  retained :  '  Went  to  Mr.  Isaac  Dun- 
ning's  new  house,  which  is  finished  outside  and  partly  inside, 
and  shut  up.  He  is  unmarried  and  at  sea.  I  found  admit- 
tance, and  shut  myself  in,  and  spent  the  day  in  secret  fasting 
and  prayer.  It  was  just  such  a  place  as  I  wanted.  Com- 
menced about  ten  o'clock,  and  experienced  no  interruption 
from  without.  Had  a  solemn,  good  day.  Among  other  things, 
prayed  for  the  owner  of  the  house,  and  that  it  might  become 
a  house  of  prayer.  Toward  the  close,  particularized  my  wife 
and  children,  and  grandchildren.  Left  about  five  o'clock.  I 
believe  no  one  knew  of  my  entering  or  leaving  the  house.'  . 


29 


CHAPTER  X. 

VARIOUS   LABORS.  —  DEATH   OF   HIS   WIFE.  —  MISSIONS   AT 
BURLINGTON  , AND    VICINITY. AT   FLAGSTAFF. 

THE  former  part  of  1839,  he  labored  principally  in  Phillips 
and  Kingfield.  The  longings  of  his  soul  to  be  instrumental 
of  good  are  seen  in  the  following  record.  '  Have  had  more 
than  ordinary  desires  of  late  that  T  might  be  useful  to  souls 
before  I  die..  As  the  Lord  did  bless  me  in  the  former  part 
of  my  ministry,  do  long  at  times  that  he  will  bless  the  latter 
part  also.'  He  then  mentions  an  instance  of  early  success  hi 
Bloomfield,  and  says,  '  O,  for  some  more,  to  be  the  crown  of 
my  rejoicing !  The  Lord  is  just  as  able  to  bless  his  word, 
and  make  it  effectual  to  the  awakening  and  conversion  of 
sinners  now,  as  he  was  in  those  days,  almost  forty-one  years 
ago.'  He  then  speaks  of  the  memorable  Sabbath  in  Dennys- 
ville,  January  1,  1804,  in  which  a  number  were  effectually 
wrought  upon,  and  the  foundation  of  the  Congregational 
Church  there  laid  ;  and  adds,  '  Lord,  help  me  to  do  some- 
thing more  for  thy  cause,  though  I  am  old  and  gray-headed. 

0  God,  forsake  me  not.' 

While  laboring  .here,  the  anniversary  of  being  licensed, 
(May  7th,)  occurred.  He  writes,  '  Forty-one  years  ago  to-day, 

1  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.     How  time  has  fled 
away  !     And  how  little  have  I  done  for  God  !     I  am  so  sin- 
ful and  unfit  for  the  ministry,  that  I  sometimes  fear  the  Lord 
has  passed  a  decree  of  barrenness  upon  me  the  rest  of  my 
life,  —  that  he  has  said,  "  Write  this  man  childless  in  the 
earth"  for  time  to  come.     If  so,  it  is  a  heavy  doom,  bntjust.' 


1839.]  JO  TIT  AM     SEW  ALL.  339. 

•• 

It  is  one  of  the  peculiarities  and  excellences  of  piety,  that 
it  causes  one  to  think  humbly  of  himself.  It  so  turns  his 
thoughts  inward,  and  gives  one  such  views  of  his  sinfulness 
and  imperfections,  and  shows  him  that  the  good  he  has  done, 
falls  so  far  below  his  obligations,  that  he  can  scarcely  allow 
himself  to  have  effected  any.  It  is  on  this  principle  that  we 
find  some  of  the  best  and  most  useful  of  men  setting  them- 
selves down  as  living  almost  in  vain,  and  trembling  in  virw 
of  a  comparison  of  themselves  with  others.  The  subject  of 
this  narrative  had  now  been  reading  the  life  of  the  excellent 
Mr.  Ilallock,  who  entered  the  ministry  a  little  previous  to 
himself,  and  performed  his  first  mission  in  Vermont  in  1801, 
(the  year  of  his  own  first  mission  ;  )  and  he  makes  the  follow- 
ing reflections  :  '  He  died  short  of  seventy,  and  I  am  spared 
to  enter  my  eightieth  year.  I  have  reason  to  think  that  he 
did  much  more  good  than  ever  I  shall  effect,  and  far  exceeded 
ine  in  exemplary  piety.  I  have  reason  to  be  ashamed  of 
myself  and  greatly  humbled,  when  I  read  the  lives  of  such 
holy,  devoted  men.' 

Another  destitute  place  now  wished  to  enjoy  his  labors. 
The  aged  pastor  of  the  church  in  Rumford,  (Rev.  Mr.  Gould,) 
had  become  so  enfeebled  as  to  be  unable  longer  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  that  office.  About  the  middle  of  May  he  enter- 
ed that  field,  and  there  continued  principally  till  November. 
Soon  after  commencing  his  labors  here,  he  attended  an  im- 
portant meeting  at  Bethel,  where  an  extensive  revival  had 
existed  the  winter  previous ;  and  where,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
fifty-eight  persons  were  received  to  the  church  at  one  time. 
Other  ministers  were  present  and  preached,  and  a  solemn 
and  affecting  season  was  enjoyed  at  the  Lord's  table. 

A  brief  record  of  a  day  spent  in  private  prayer  while 
laboring  in  Rumford,  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader.  '  Ob- 
tained the  key  of  the  meeting-house,  and  went  in  and  locked 
the  door.  Spent,  the  day  in  retirement  from  the  world ;  and 
if  it  had  not  been  for  some  interruption  from  my  own  wicked 


340  MEMOIROF  ,   [1840. 

• 
heart,  should  have  had  almost  a  perfectly  happy  day.     But 

in  this  imperfect  state,  something  arises  to  mar  our  enjoyment. 
Had  much  to  do  in  confessing  sins  and  imploring  pardon. 
Some  sins  of  my  youth  have  lately  been  brought  to  my  mind 
with  fresh  and  painful  recollection,  which  I  thought  it  my 
duty  particularly  to  confess.  Pleaded  earnestly  for  the  church 
and  people  here,  —  for  our  land,  —  for  the  worjd,  —  for 
prosperity  to  attend  the  benevolent  efforts  of  the  day, —  and 
for  my  family  and  descendants.' 

The  following  expresses  his  feelings  in  behalf  of  a  gentle- 
man* who  was  not  a  professor  of  religion,  at  whose  house  he 
passed  a  night.  Similar  instances,  too  numerous  to  mention, 
occur  in  almost  every  place  he  visits  ;  and  yet  by  a  subse- 
quent remark,  it  appears  that  every  such  instance  is  not 
noted  in  his  diary.  '  Felt  much  for  him  and  his  family, 
especially  in  secret  prayer.  Had  such  earnest  longings  for 
their  conversion  and  salvation,  that  I  could  scarcely  contain 
myself.  O,  that  a  Hearer  of  prayer  would  grant  my  requests. 
Was  almost  ready  to  say  with  Luther,  "  Lord,  it  is  my  will, 
£  that  they  be  converted  ;]  and  let  my  will  be  done."  "  For 
my  will  is  thy  will."  O,  that  it  might  be  the  Lord's  will  to 
accomplish  my  will  herein.'  This  appears  not  to  be  the  only 
instance  of  earnest  intercession  for  that  family ;  for,  some 
time  after,  we  find  him  saying, '  Felt  very  desirous  in  secret 
that  all  my  agonizing  prayers  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  might  not 
be  in  vain.'  On  the  9th  of  October,  he  assisted  in  the  instal- 
lation of  the  writer  at  Westbrook. 

He  commences  the  year  1840  with  a  record  of  important 
facts  which  had  occurred  during  his  life.  '  This  morning  I  am 
eighty  years  old :  ten  years  over  the  common  age  of  man  ! 
Where  have  I  got  to  ?  My  days  have  overrun  the  age  of 
father,  and  mother,  and  many  of  my  predecessors,  and  most 
of  my  contemporaries.  True,  a  number  of  my  acquaintance 
are  older  than  myself.  My  two  brothers  are  older.  One  is 

*  Mr.  D.  Kimball. 


1840.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  341 

eighty-seven,  and  the  other  almost  eighty-live.  Three  Con- 
gregational ministers  in  the  State  are  older  than  I  am,  and 
one  Baptist  minister.*  But  how  small  is  the  number  of  such ! 
How  many  important  events  have  token  place  in  the  world 
since  I  came  upon  the  stage  !  The  Indian  wars,  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  ceased  on  the  reduction  of  Canada,  and  peace 
was  established,  when  I  was  two  years  old.  Boston  was 
blockaded  by  the  British  when  I  was  fourteen.  The  revolu- 
tionary war  broke  out  when  I  was  fifteen,  and  closed  when  I 
was  twenty-two.  The  dark  day  occurred  when  I  was  twenty. 
The  French  revolution  took  place,  and  the  wonderful  career 
of  Bonaparte  and  his  wonderful  downfall ;  the  rise  of  atheism 
and  its  overthrow  —  all  in  my  day.  Modem  missionary  efforts ; 
the  age  of  Bible  societies  and  Tract  societies,  Education  and 
Temperance  societies  ;  the  rise  of  Colonization  and  Abolition 
societies  ;  many  remarkable  revivals  of  religion  ;  the  wonder- 
ful outpourings  of  the  Spirit  on  colleges  and  other  places; 
the  raising  up  of  preachers  and  the  spread  of  evangelical 
religion,  through  our  wide-spreading  population  —  have  been 
in  my  day.  I  have  witnessed  many  changes;  but  I  must 
witness  one  more  important  change  :  I  must  put  off  this 
earthly  tabernacle,  and  exchange  ivorlds!  Oh,  to  be  ready 
whenever  the  time  comes.' 

At  the  close  of  1839  and  the  commencement  of  1840,  he 
labored  a  few  Sabbaths  in  Phillips,  Kingfield,  and  vicinity. 
Near  the  close  of  February  he  went  again  to  Harpswell. 
One  or  two  things,  which  occurred  on  the  way,  are  worthy  of 
attention.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  when  he  lived  in  a 
camp  by  himself,  we  have  noticed  how  much  he  enjoyed  wor- 
ship at  meals.  He  was  also  averse  to  innovations  on  time- 
honored  practices,  and  was  a  somewhat  strenuous  advocate 
for  two  services  at  meals.  It  so  happened  on  this  journey, 

*  These  are  thought  to  be  Rev.  Amasa  Smith,  Rev.  Mr.  Gould, 
of  Rumford,  Rev.  John  Sawyer,  and  Elder  Sylvanus  Boardman. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer  survives  him. 

29* 


342  MEMOIR    OF  ^[1840. 

that  he  took  a  dinner  on  the  road.  Of  this  he  says,  '  Had  a 
good  opportunity  to  ask  a  blessing  and  return  thanks,  as  I 
went  on  the  way,  without  any  one  interrupting  me.  Found 
sweet  nearness  to  God  in  the  services,  and  felt  them  to  be  the 
best  part  of  my  repast.  Gould  not  but  think  how  much  those 
Christians  lose  who  omit  giving  thanks  after  their  meals.' 

The  next  day,  he  narrowly  escaped  being  drowned.  Finding 
that  the  ice  was  travelled  from  Gardiner  to  Bath,  he  took  it  at 
the  former  place,  and  followed  the  river  down.  The  ice  was 
glassy,  and  he  enjoyed  the  guidance  of  only  a  single  track.  This, 
as  it  proceeded  to  Bath,  he  left  by  crossing  over  the  point  of 
land  which  makes  down  between  Kennebeck  river  and  Merry- 
meeting  bay.  He  went  on  to  the  bay,  intending  to  keep  down 
near  the  western  shore.  This  he  found  difficult.  A  heavy  fog 
had  risen,  and  he  found  himself  frequently  turning  up  into  the 
coves.  At  length,  not  knowing  exactly  where  he  was,  he  turned 
up  upon  Cathance  river,  which  he  had  intended  to  avoid. 
Seeing  a  house,  he  thought  it  best  to  leave  the  ice  and  pro- 
ceed on  the  land.  In  going  ashore,  though  he  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  examine  the  ice,  his  horse  broke  in.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  partly  releasing  her  from  the  sleigh ;  but,  in  moving 
round,  he  unfortunately  stepped  on  a  weak  place  himself,  and 
went  down  nearly  to  his  armpits.  The  place,  however,  was 
small ;  and,  his  arms  extended,  fell  on  stronger  ice  ;  and  not- 
withstanding his  age  and  weight,*  after  a  few  attempts  he 
succeeded  in  getting  out.  No  person  was  within  call ;  and  he 
dared  not  leave.  His  floundering  horse  succeeded  in  disen- 
gaging herself  from  the  sleigh ;  and  at  length,  with  the  little 
assistance  he  could  render,  in  mounting  upon  a  stronger  por- 
tion of  the  ice.  On  inquiry,  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  the 
water  at  the  place  was  supposed- to  be  twenty  feet  deep,  or 
more.  He  says,  '  It  seemed  strange  to  every  one  how  my 
beast  ever  got  out.  But  so  it  was  ordered  by  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, that  her  life  and  my  own  were  spared.  In  thinking  of  ft 

*  Hi.«  ordinary  weight  was  considerably  more  than  two  hundred. 


1840.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  343 

afterward,  concluded  that  it  was  a  solemn  call  to  be  ready  at 
any  time,  and  under  any  circumstances,  and  prayed  that  it 
might  be  sanctified  to  me  to  the  purging  away  of  sin  and  fit- 
ting me  for  heaven.  Oh,  that  I  may  not  misimprove  the 
providence.' 

At  Harpswell,  his  labors  appear  to  have  been  blessed.  A 
number  of  cases  of  anxiety  and  hope  occurred.  And  here,  as 
well  as  previously  at  Kingfield,  he  seems  to  have  practically 
remembered  the  injunction,  "  Go  out  into  the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in."  While  at  Kingfield,* 
we  find  him  more  than  once  pressing  far  up  under  the  east 
side  of  Mount  Abraham,  where  stones,-  and  mud,  and  nume- 
rous sets  of  bars  across  the  way,  obliged  him  to  leave  his 
wagon  and  take  a  saddle.  At  Harpswell,  too,  he  neglected 
not  the  Islands.  And  on  these,  to  some  extent,  the  blessing 
of  Heaven  descended.  At  a  second  visit  to  Birch  Island,  he 
found  such  a  solemn  state  of  things  and  so  many  "anxious, 
that  he  regretted  having  yielded  to  an  urgent  request  to  go  to 
Bath,  where  a  revival  of  religion  existed,  and  assist  in  a  series 
of  meetings. 

On  his  return  home,  he  found  some  special  religious  inter- 
est there.  And  the  occurrence  of  a  Wednesday-evening 
meeting  (a  meeting  which  the  reader  will  recollect  was  estab- 
lished early  in  the  history  of  the  place)  occasioned  some  remi- 
niscences, which,  as  illustrative  of  character,  and  the  connec- 
tion of  following  events  with  those  which  have  since  taken 
place,  are  too  valuable  to  be  lost.  He  says,  '  We  used  to 
have  good  meetings  in  old  times,  when  brother  Samuel  lived 

where  Esq.  M now  does.     He  used  to  come  when,  in 

the  fall  of  the  year,  the  meetings  were  in  the  evening,  and 
the  passing  so  bad*  that  he  sometimes  lost  his  shoes  in  the 
mud,  going  home,  and  would  pull  them  out  and  walk  the  rest 
of  the  way  in  his  stocking-feet.  He  was  a  persevering,  uni- 
•form,  good  man.  I  then  often  thought  that  it  was  not  likely 

• 

*  Nearly  a  mile  of  forest  had  then  to  he  passed  through. 


344  MEMOIR   OP  [1840. 

we  should  always  live  together  in  such  intimate  Christian 
fellowship,  and  that  we  were  training  for  something  different 
from  what  we  then  followed.  I  have  often  thought  of  some 
feelings  I  once  had  on  hearing  Elder  Smith  preach  here  from 
the  text,  "Upon  all  hills  dug  with  the  mattock,  there  shall  not 
come  thither  the  fear  of  briers  and  thorns  ;  but  it  shall  be  for 
the  sending  forth  of  oxen,  and  the  treading  of  lesser  cattle." 
The  hills  he  supposed  to  be  the  church,  which  was  the  place 
for  sending  forth  preachers.  I  had  then  some  very  strong  de- 
sires, and  even  faith  to  believe,  that  our  little  church  would  be 
such  a  place,  and  that  some  preachers  would  be  sent  forth 
from  our  little  hill.  Myself  and  brother  Samuel,  two  of  my  sons 
and  Mr.  Chapman,  have  proceeded  from  this  little  hill  of  Zion. 
And  since  we  separated  from  Hallowell  church,  we  have  colo- 
nized Farmington,  Wilton,  and  Fayette.  And  Hallowell 
church  has  colonized  Pittston,  North  Augusta,  and  Vassal- 
boro ;  and  Vassalboro  has  colonized  Winslow,  Clinton,  and 
Waterville.  Thus  since  Hallowell  and  we  began  together, 
we  have  spread  abroad  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left ; 
and  that  saying  seems  to  be  fulfilled  in  us,  "  Give  place  ;  for 
the  place  is  too  strait  for  us  to  dwell  in :  lengthen  the  cords 
and  strengthen  the  stakes."  The  Lord  often  brings  great 
events  from  little  causes,  and  thus  glorifies  himself,  and  lays 
all  human  pride  in  the  dust,  where  it  ought  to  be.' 

In  May  and  June,  he  performed  a  short  mission  in  Lincoln 
and  vicinity,  in  the  upper  part  of  Penobscot  County.  This 
was  a  new  and  destitute  region.  In  Burlington,  some  spe- 
cial religious  interest  existed.  In  Enfield  he  found  a  man 
who  was  awakened  under  his  preaching  in  Ellsworth  more 
than  thirty  years  previous,  whose  impressions  issued  in  hope- 
ful conversion,  and  who  told  him  of  one  or  two  more  whose 
attention  was  arrested  at  the  same  time.  He  was  encouraged 
by  the  evidence  of  success  in  his  previous  labors.  And  it 
may  be  proper  to  remark  here,  once  for  all,  that  in  all  the 
destitute  regions  whicli  he  visited,,  he  carefully  looked  after 


1840.]  JOTHAM    SEVTALL.  345 

the  scattered  sheep  of  Christ's  flock,  ministering  to  their 
comfort  by  visits,  conversation,  and  prayer ;  and  often  lectur- 
ing in  private  houses  for  the  accommodation  of  the  feeble, 
the  aged,  and  the  infirm  ;  sometimes  administering  to  them, 
at  such  lectures,  the  special  ordinances  of  the  Gospel ;  and 
that  he  looked  up,  and  brought  to  the  ordinance  of  baptism, 
a  multitude  of  the  scattered  unconsecrated  children  vof  the 
church.  And  how  highly  the  privileges  thus  afforded  were 
sometimes  valued,  is  shown  by  the  fact,  that,  on  a  Sabbath 
which  he  spent  at  Lincoln,  a  man  and  his  wife  came  twenty 
miles  to  enjoy  the  ordinance  of  the  Supper. 

July  and  August  he  labored  again  in  Rumford,  receiving  a 
few,  as  he  had  done  before,  to  the  church.  He  was  now  fol- 
lowed here  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Hopkins,  who,  near  the  close  of  the 
year,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  church  as  its  pastor. 

From  the  middle  of  October  to  the  close  of  the  ye&r,  he 
labored  in  Orrington.  Here,  unhappy  alienations  in  the 
church  had  grown  out  of  some  ecclesiastical  difficulties  which 
he  made  some  efforts  to  heal,  but,  as  far  as  appears,  without 
success. 

During  this  year,  his  anxieties  were  called  forth  toward 
that  child  of  his  early  prayers  and  tears,  the  church  in  Ches- 
terville.  The  Under  shepherd,  who,  a  few  years  previous, 
had  been  placed  over  it,  had  been  removed  to  another  field 
of  labor.  Attending  a  conference  of  the  church,  he  thus  ex- 
presses himself:  '  At  the  close,  the  Church  accepted  the  re- 
sult of  Council  in  relation  to  D.'s  dismission.  In  conversing 
on  our  destitute  condition,  I  felt  deeply,  and  others  ap- 
peared to  feel  also.  We  sang  the  42d  Psalm  with  faltering 
voices,  yet  endeavored  to  exercise  faith  according  to  the  last 
verse. 

"  Hope  in  the  Lord,  whose  mighty  hand 

Can  all  thy  woes  remove  ;* 
For  I  shall  yet  before  him  stand, 
And  sing  restoring  love." 


346  MEMO  IK    OK  [1840. 

God  grant  that  it  may  be  so.  Offered  prayer  at  the  close, 
and  had  a  most  solemn,  melting  season.  Did  seem  to  exer- 
cise faith  that  this  church  will  yet  arise,  and  that  I  shall  live 
to  see  it,  according  to  the  lines  in  the  128th  Psalm, 

"  This  is  the  man  whose  happy  eyes, 
Shall  see  the  sinking  church  arise, 
Tiieii  leave  the  world  in  peace." 

1  seemed  to  feel  that  it  would  be  so.     AMEN. 

Afterward,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  for  prayer  in  view 
of  their  bereaved  condition,  he  possessed  the  same  feelings. 

During  this  year,  he  assisted  in  four  installations  ;  —  that 
of  his  youngest  son  in  Scarboro,  August  2Gth;  that  of  Rev. 
J.  R.  Munsell,  in  East  Brewer,  October  7th ;  that  of  Rev. 
J.  T.  Ilawes,  in  New  Sharon,  November  4th ;  and  that  of 
Rev.  "Win.  J.  Breed,  in  Bucksport,  December  9th. 

We  close  the  year  with  an  extract  or  two  from  his  diary. 
Marking  the  progress  of  a  month,  he  says,  '  Time  is  rolling, 
and  will  never  return.  I  am  approaching  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  grave  every  day,  leaving  me  less  and  less  time  to  pre- 
pare for  death ;  less  and  less  time  to  do  something  here  for 
God ;  and  more  and  more  to  be  accountable  for.  But  if  I 
am  indeed  one  of  God's  chosen,  I  am  drawing  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  close  of  all  my  troubles  and  sins ;  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  rewards  of  the  righteous  —  to  the  everlasting 
rest  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God.'  At  another  time, 
having  enjoyed  secret  and  family  prayer,  he  says,  '  Oh,  it  is 
an  inestimable  privilege;  to  get  near  to  God  in  prayer.  Oh, 
how  many  mock  prayers  have  I  offered  in  my  life-time,  and 
verily  thought  I  was  doing  God  service,  and  bringing  him  into 
debt  to  me!  And  this  was  the  occasion  of  much  enmity  of 
heart  being  exercised,  when  I  thought  it  possible  that  the 
Lord  would  not  regard  my  prayers  and  morality,  but  would 
convert  and  save  openly  profane  persons,  and  pass  by  me, 


18-11.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  347 

and  send  me  to  hell  at  last !  The  thought  was  intolerable. 
I  have  often  thought  since,  what  wonderful  forbearance  the 
Lord  exercised  toward  me,  that  he  had  not  struck  me  dead 
in  such  exercises  of  enmity  against  his  Sovereignty  and  Jus- 
tice !  Ah,  all  heaven  may  well  be  astonished,  if  ever  such  a 
hell-deserving  wretch  enters  its  pure  mansions ! '  Again ; 
finding  on  a  review  that  he  had  confounded  two  Scripture 
facts  in  a  sermon,  he  felt  much  mortified,  and  said,  '  May  it 
humble  me,  and  check  the  pride  of  old  age  that  I  am  trou- 
bled with.  I  have  often  prayed  to  be  delivered  from  the 
follies  of  old  age  ;  and  surely,  the  pride  of  old  age  is  one  of 
its  greatest  follies.' 

Near  the  commencement  of  1841,  he  visited  again  his  son 
in  Scarboro.     Here,  in  family  prayer,  pleading  for  covenant 
blessings  on  the  children,  he  says, '  It  seemed  as  if  the  prom- 
ises of  the  covenant  were  as  sure  as  the  pillars  of  God's 
Throne.'    ,With  this,  we  here  connect  another  similar  in- 
stance of  his  faith  in  the  stability  of  God's  covenant  with  be- 
lieving parents  in  behalf  of  their  children.     It  was  a  few 
months  after  the  above,  at  a  lecture  in  the  house  of  this  son, 
at  which  he  baptized  one  of  his  children.     He  says,  '  Tried 
to  meditate  and  pray  over  a  subject  for  this  evening.     Felt 
some  fears  that  the  Lord  would  not  afford  his  assistance,  but 
besought  him  earnestly.    Spake  from  Ps.  103 :  17,  18 :  "  The 
mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  upon 
them  that  fear  him,  and  his  righteousness  unto  children's  chil- 
dren," etc.     Do  not  know  as  I  ever  had  a  more  solemn  sea- 
son in  speaking,  and  praying,  and  administering  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  —  such  a  sense  of  the  unchangeable  attri- 
butes of  God,  and  the  absolute  certainty  of  the  fulfilment  of 
his  promises.     There  seemed  nothing  in  creation  that  could  . 
fully  set  it  forth.     Thought  I  did  not  grudge  coming  from 
home  to  this  place,  [a  distance  of  some  seventy-five  miles,] 
if  it  was  only  for  the  enjoyment  of  this  solemn  season.    Tried 
to  give  thanks  for  this  almost  unexpected  favor,  and  prayed 


348  MEM  OIK     OF  [1841. 

that  its  influence  might  here  be  felt  in  impressing  this  ever- 
lasting mercy  of  God  upon  the  minds  of  his  people.'  * 

For  two  months,  near  the  commencement  of  this  year,  he 
labored  again  in  Orrington.  This  labor,  (as  also  most  of  that 
in  the  same  place  the  last  year,)  was  performed  under  the 
direction  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society.  Under  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  same  Society,  he  also  labored  thirteen  weeks  in 
Burlington,  Lincoln,  and  vicinity.  In  the  two  locations,  he 
completed,  within  the  limits  of  the  missionary  year,  a  mission 
of  six  months :  and  during  this  time,  beside  a  multiplicity  of 
weekly  lectures,  he  failed  but  twice  of  preaching  three  tunes 
on  the  Sabbath.  At  the  close  of  an  abstract  of  his  labors, 
the  report  of  that  Society  justly  observes,  '  Fourscore  years 
seem  to  have  done  little  either  in  abating  his  ardor  or  cur- 
tailing his  labors.' 

As  Burlington,  Lincoln,  and  vicinity,  were,  for  a  few  years 
subsequently,  the  principal  sphere  of  his  missionary  labors, 
we  will  here  give,  in  his  own  language,  a  summary  of  them, 
taken  from  the  Reports  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society. 
This  will  help  the  reader  to  see  how  the  vigor  of  the  consti- 
tution which  God  had  given  him,  held  out,  and  how  diligently 
he  filled  up  his  advancing  years  in  the  service  of  his  Master. 
In  1842,  he  had  a  mission  there  of  three  and  a  quarter 
months.  During  the  time,  he  says,  '  I  took  an  excursion  up 
the  Aroostook  Road,  spending  rather  more  than  three  weeks 
in  the  tour.  I  also  employed  a  few  days  in  ranging  up  the 
Piscataquis.  In  the  course  of  the  mission,  which  I  com- 
menced the  16th  of  March,  I  preached  sixty-five  times,  [just 
five  times  a  week;]  attended  four  Church  conferences,  and 
a  few  prayer  meetings ;  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
three  times ;  baptized  seven  children ;  visited  several  Sab- 

*  His  fervent  pleading  at  this  time  might  have  had  much  to  do 
with  a  hopeful  change  which  occurred  in  a  child  of  this  family,  who, 
a  few  weeks  after,  was  torn  from  its  parents  by  death. 


1841.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  349 

bath  Schools ;  made  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  family  vis- 
its ;  attended  one  funeral ;  and  collected  for  the  use  of  the 
Society,  thirty-one  dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents.' 

His  mission  reported  in  June,  1843,  was  for  three  months, 
and  commenced  September  14th;  he  'preached  seventy-nine 
times,  [more  than  six  and  a  half  times  a  week ;)  attended 
four  Church  conferences ;  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
four  times;  baptized  eleven  children,  and  made  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  family  visits.' 

His  mission  reported  in  1844  was  for  three  and  a  quarter 
months.  In  this,  he  '  preached  sixty-nine  times,  [five  times  a 
week ;]  attended  five  conference  meetings ;  visited  a  few 
schools ;  baptized  two  adults,  and  eight  children  ;  admitted 
four  persons  to  church-fellowship ;  administered  the  Lord's 
Supper  three  times,  and  made  two  hundred  and  thirty-six 
family  visits.' 

His  mission  for  1845,  which  was  for  six  months,  reports  : 
'  Preached  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  times,  [nearly  six 
times  a  week;]  attended  four  church  fasts  and  conferences  ; 
baptized  one  adult,  and  eleven  children ;  administered  the 
Lord's  Supper  five  times;  admitted  four  persons  to  church- 
fellowship  ;  assisted  in  the  organization  of  one  church,  and 
made  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  family  visits.'  At  this 
time  it  will  be  remembered  that  he  was  eighty-five  years 
old. 

The  excursion  up  the  Aroostook  road,  mentioned  in  the  first 
of  these  reports,  was  to  visit  Patten,  high  up  in  Penobscot 
county,  about  one  hundred  miles  north  of  Bangor,  more  than 
fifty  miles  north  of  Burlington,  and  nearly  in  the  same  paral- 
lel with  Houlton.  This  was  in  April,  1842.  Here  he  was 
constantly  in  motion,  laboring  with  much  of  the  activity  of  his 
younger  years.  In  one  instance  we  find  him  going  two  miles 
on  foot  to  a  weekly  lecture,  over  a  road  which  had  in  it  so 
many  open  sloughs,  that  it  was  impracticable  to  go  with  a 
wagon,  or  a  sleigh,  or  on  horse-back  ;  and  of  course  he  had 
SO 


350  MEMOIR     OF  [1841. 

to  return  by  the  same  means.  He  preached  in  the  thinly  in- 
habited plantations  on  the  road ;  and  on  his  return  to  Lincoln, 
from  which  he  had  been  absent  twenty-four  days,  he  had 
'  preached  twenty-four  times,  attended  two  church  conferences, 
baptized  three  children,  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  once, 
and  made  forty  family  visits.'  At  Patten  he  found  a  lady 
who  was  hopefully  brought  to  the  Saviour's  feet,  as  the  result 
of  impressions  which  she  received  from  a  lecture  he  preached 
at  Ellsworth,  when  she  was  ten  years  old. 

We  now  return  to  1841.  The  portion  of  the  year  not  oc- 
cupied as  above  indicated,  was  spent  in  labors  somewhat  pro- 
miscuous , —  principally  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence.  Dif- 
ferent journeys  were  taken ;  one  in  August,  to  Boston.  While 
in  the  vicinity,  he  attended  the  anniversary  of  the  Theological 
Seminary,  at  Andover.  Here  he  was  invited  to  fill  the  place 
of  the  preacher  before  the  Alumni,  who  was  absent.  The  re- 
quest was  unexpected  ;  and  he  '  had  but  little  opportunity  to 
pray  in  retirement.'  But  he  obtained  '  liberty  at  the  throne 
of  grace,'  and  went  forward.  He  preached  from  2  Cor.  2 : 
15,  16,  "  For  we  are  unto  God  a  sweet  savor  of  Christ,  in 
them  that  are  saved,  and  in  them  that  perish,"  etc.  He  en- 
joyed a  solemn  season  to  his  own  soul ;  and  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  it  was  not  without  interest  and  edification  to 
his  hearers.  The  next  day,  during  the  exercises  of  the  ex- 
hibition, he  was  informed  by  a  note,  that  he  would  be  called 
upon  to  offer  the  closing  prayer.  He  says, '  I  lifted  up  my 
heart  to  God  for  help ;  and  I  trust  he  afforded  it.  I  must 
needs  think  that  I  got  near  the  Lord  in  the  duty.'  Professor 
Stuart  afterward  remarked  to  liim  with  manifest  emotion, 
4  You  have  refreshed  my  soul.' 

The  next  Sabbath  he  preached  for  Dr.  Burgess,  of  Ded- 
ham,  and  assisted  in  administering  the  Supper.  He  appears 
to  have  had,  on  the  whole,  a  solemn,  interesting  season.  But 
on  a  review,  he  says,  <  Had  much  matter  of  humiliation  be- 
fore God.  Oh,  if  the  precious  blood  of  Christ  is  not  applied 


1841.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  351 

to  my  soul,  there  is  sin  enough  attending  and  cleaving  to  my 
holiest  services  forever  to  exclude  me  from  the  favorable 
presence  of  God.  None  but  Christ  —  none  but  Christ  and 
his  precious  blood,  can  save  my  soul  from  the  dreadful  con- 
sequences of  sin,  here  or  hereafter.' 

On  the  7th  of  November  he  was  called  upon  to  officiate  at 
the  funeral  of  a  long-tried  and  faithful  friend,  a  deacon*  of 
the  church  at  Chesterville.  This  was  to  him  a  very  affecting, 
and  somewhat  painful  service.  'My  feelings, (he  says), were 
much  excited.  But  I  was  enabled  so  to  command  them  that 
they  did  not  materially  obstruct  my  utterance.'  A  subsequent 
reflection  on  the  event  is  thought  to  be  worth  preserving. 

'The  reflection  that  I  should  never  again  see  deacon  F , 

in  this  world,  seemed  melancholy.  But  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church  has  ordered  the  removal  of  his  relation  from  the 
church  militant  to  the  church  triumphant,  and  calls  upon  us 
to  give  our  consent  to  the  transfer.  If  a  member  was  re- 
moving to  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  where  he  would  be 
in  a  situation  to  do  much  more  good,  and  enjoy  much  'more 
than  with  us, — though  it  would  be  trying  to  part  with  him, — 
we  should  readily  consent  to  the  transfer  of  his  church  stand- 
ing ;  and  we  certainly  should  be  willing  when  the  removal  is 
to  heaven.' 

Near  the  close  of  the  year,  he  was  reading  in  course  in 
family  worship,  the  history  of  Israel's  deliverance  from 
Egypt.  A  record  or  two  which  the  events  connected  with 
it  occasioned,  we  will  give.  '  A  solemn  season  in  family 
prayer,  occasioned  by  reading  God's  dealings  with  Pharaoh. 
This  brought  to  view  the  justice  of  the  procedure,  had  he- 
entered  into  judgment  with  UP,  and  destroyed  us  as  he  did 
that  proud  and  obstinate  monarch.'  The  savor  of  these  feel- 
ings seems  to  have  remained  with  him ;  for,  of  a  season  of 
prayer  in  a  social  meeting  that  evening,  he  says,  '  Had  a  very 
lively  and  impressive  sense  of  the  entire  dependence  of  crea- 

*  Joseph  French. 


352  MEMOIR     OF  [1842. 

tures  on  God,  and  that  a  proper  sense  of  that  dependence 
would  lead  to  more  than  ordinary  exertions  to  do  his  will.  A 
belief  of  the  sovereignty  of  God  and  his  superintendence  of 
all  creatures,  actions,  and  events,  if  rightly  understood,  will 
never  lead  to  indifference  and  indolence,  but  to  activity  and 
diligence.'  Again,  a  few  days  onward :  '  Had  a  solemn  sea- 
son in  family  prayer.  Have  not  done  with  Pharaoh  yet,  in 
the  course  of  reading :  and  I  suppose  that  the  Lord  has  not 
done  with  him  yet.  Nor  has  he  done  with  Moses.  He  finds 
good  employment  for  him  in  heaven,  I  do  not  doubt.  O, 
may  I  be  admitted  to  join  him  at  last  in  singing  the  song  of 
Moses  and  the  Lamb.' 

The  first  part  of  1842,  he  spent  about  home.  The  health 
of  his  wife  had  been  failing  for  some  time ;  and  it  became 
evident  that  she  had  not  long  to  live.  This  rendered 
it  necessary  that  he  should  not  leave.  On  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary, his  grandson,  David  B.  Sewall,  was  ordained  over  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Robbinston,  which,  years  before, 
he  had  assisted  in  gathering.  He  had  been  requested  to  be 
on  the  Council,  with  a  view  to  his  offering  the  consecrating 
prayer.  It  was  quite  a  trial  to  him  not  to  be  present  on  the 
solemn  and  interesting  occasion.  But  circumstances  would 
not  permit.  He  did  not,  however,  overlook  the  object.  On 
the  evening  of  that  day,  the  Wednesday  prayer-meeting  was 
at  his  house.  Just  before  its  commencement,  his  wife,  (now 
very  feeble  and  confined  to  the  bed),  requested  him  not  to 
forget  the  '  consecrating  prayer.'  The  request  was  probably 
not  necessary ;  but  it  shows  the  deep  interest  she  felt  in  the 
thing.  The  meeting  was  opened.  He  led  in  prayer,  and 
poured  out  his  full  soul  before  God  in  that  behalf. '  And  thus 
the  grand-parents,  (one  of  them  just  on  the  verge  of  heaven,) 
and  the  parents,  (who,  prevented  from  attending  the  ordina- 
tion, were  visiting  their  sick  parent,)  and  other  Christian  re 
latives  and  friends  united  in  invoking  the  Divine  blessing  on 


1842.]  JOTHAM    SE^ALL.  353 

the  newly  constituted  pastor,  and  on  the  church  and  society 
over  which  he  was  placed,  and  on  the  connection  which  had 
been  formed  between  them. 

His  wife  continued  to  languish.  Her  religious  exercises 
from  the  first  had  not  been  of  a  brilliant  character.  She  had 
suffered  from  many  doubts  of  her  acceptance  with  God :  and 
yet  her  life  had  borne  ample  testimony  of  her  interest  in  the 
cause  of  Christ.  Oppressed  with  a  complication  of  diseases 
which  had  been  accumulating  and  gathering  strength  for 
years,  and  which  now  had  sunk  her  so  low  and  weighed  upon 
her  so  heavily  that  reason  sometimes  reeled  upon  its  throne ; 
these  doubts  still  afflicted  her.  A  crucified  Saviour  was  all 
her  confidence ;  but  there  was  wanting  that  confidence  of 
faith  which  would  put  all  fears  to  flight.  This  led  him  to 
plead  very  earnestly  in  her  behalf.  While  he  felt,  and 
deeply  felt,  that  they  were  both  unworthy  of  the  favor ;  he 
entreated  that  the  cloud  which  obscured  the  bright  visions  of 
the  Saviour's  face  might  be  withdrawn.  His  sympathy,  also, 
was  excited  in  her  behalf  by  remembering  that  his  absence 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry  had  thrown  upon  her  the  care 
and  labor  of  training  a  numerous  family  ;  and  had  imposed 
upon  her,  in  many  respects,  a  heavy  weight  of  anxiety  and 
responsibility  which  probably  bent  her  erect  form  sooner 
than  it  would  otherwise  have  stooped ;  and  might  have  in- 
duced the  very  infirmities  under  which  she  was  sinking.  In 
this  sense,  at  least,  she  had  suffered  for  Christ's  sake ;  and 
he  used  this  as  an  additional  plea  that  the  Saviour  would  be 
gracious  to  her  now  in  the  hour  of  her  extremity.  Many 
seasons  of  fervent  prayer  did  he  enjoy  with  her  as  well  as 
for  her.  At  length,  her  faith  seemed  to  triumph.  The  fatal 
day  came.  A  change  in  her  was  observed ;  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  messenger  of  death  was  about  to  serve  the  fear- 
ful summons.  And,  to  the  question  :  '  Are  you  ready  to  go? ' 
she  replied,  '  Yes,  ready  and  willing.  I  gave  up  myself  to 
Christ  this  morning  before  day  light ; '  —  meaning,  probably, 

SO* 


354  M£MOIB   OK  [1842. 

that  she  made  an  entire  surrender  of  herself  and  all  her  in- 
terests into  His  hands.  Shortly  after,  she  closed  her  eyes, 
and  quietly  ceased  to  breathe.  This  occurred  on  Saturday, 
the  26th  of  February.  Thus  the  link  was  sundered  which 
had  bound  them  in  the  nearest  earthly  connection  for  more 
than  fifty-four  years,  and  she  was  permitted,  we  hope,  to  soar 
to  worlds  above,  and  he  was  left,  alone  and  disconsolate,  to 
toil  on  through  the  few  remaining  years  of  life.  But  he 
bowed  submissively  to  the  Divine  will,  and  prayed  that  the 
bereavement  might  be  made  the  means  of  increasing  his  ho- 
liness and  usefulness,  and  his  preparation  for  heaven.  She 
was  nearly  seventy-three  and  a  half  years  old ;  and  the  tes- 
timony which  he  gives  of  her  worth,  and  every  word  of  which 
is  deserved,  is,  that  she  was  '  a  discreet,  prudent,  faithful,  pa- 
tient, industrious,  loving,  persevering,  good  wife.'  All  these 
qualities  were  put  in  requisition  by  the  circumstances  in 
which  she  was  placed ;  and  they  had  a  happy  development 
in  her  character. 

The  next  day  he  preached  from  the  texts,  "He  doeth  ac- 
cording to  his  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth,"  etc.  (Dan.  4 :  35.)  and,  "  It  is  bet- 
ter to  go  to  the  house  of  mourning,  than  to  go  to  the  house 
of  feasting :  for  that  is  the  end  of  all  men ;  and  the  living 
will  lay  it  to  heart."  etc. 

The  funeral  took  place  on  Tuesday,  at  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Rogers  of  Farmington,  preached  from  Mark  14:  8,  "She 
hath  done  what  she  could."  As  he  was  walking  after  her 
into  the  grave  yard,  the  bereaved  husband  thought,  '  I  have 
accompanied  my  wife  to  the  brink  of  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death ;  I  now  follow  her  to  the  brink  of  the  grave ;  but 
I  can  follow  her  no  farther  till  the  Lord  give  the  word. 
Said  Christ  to  his  disciples,  "  Ye  cannot  follow  me  now ;  but 
ye  shall  follow  me  hereafter."  So  it  will  be  in  this  case.  I 
shall  follow  hereafter,  at  his  bidding  who  gave  me  being.' 
It  is  no  wonder  that  when  he  retured  to  the  house  of  which 


1842.]  JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.         t  355 

she  had  been  so  long  an  inmatl,  and  where  she  had  often 
greeted  him  with  a  smile,  it  '  looked  desolate,  and  a  melan- 
choly, disconsolate  feeling  came  over'  him. 

As  might  be  expected,  we  find  frequent  reference  in  his 
diary  to  these  solemn  and  impressive  events.  A  few  weeks 
afterward,  when  desiring  a  sanctified  effect  from  the  bereave- 
ment, he  says,  '  This  has  sometimes  seemed  to  me  as  the  last 
correction  which  the  Lord  will  administer  to  me ;  and  that 
the  result  would  be,  that  if  not  cured  of  sin,  I  should  be 
given  up  as  hopeless  ;  or,  that  transgression  would  be  thus 
purged  away,  and  I  be  fitted  for  a  state  of  inconceivable 
blessedness.'  The  reader,  who  has  followed  him  so  long  in 
his  religious  course,  and  witnessed  his  uncommon  devoted- 
ness,  may  be  unpleasantly  affected  by  the  expression  of  a 
bare  possibility  that  he  might  be  'given  up  as  hopeless.' 
But  to  him,  who  deeply  felt  that  he  had  no  merit,  and  who 
knew  "  the  plague  of  his  own  heart,"  and  who  often  and  pain- 
fully felt  its  workings  within  ;  the  possibility  of  such  an  event 
appeared  not  so  strange.  Sin  still  cleaved  to  him ;  and  he 
felt  it  to  be  extremely  offensive  to  God :  and  he  knew  that  if 
he  escaped  its  worst  consequences,  it  would  only  be  by  an  act 
of  sovereign  mercy.  It  shows,  too,  his  sense  of  the  critical 
situation  of  one  who  is  approaching  the  end  of  his  probation, 
and  with  whom  the  last  means  of  sanctification  are  em- 
ployed. 

However  fearful  he  might  have  been  that  the  correction 
administered  would  not  produce  the  desired  effect,  the  reader 
will  doubtless  be  satisfied  by  the  following,  which  occurs  a 
few  weeks  after  the  above,  that  he  took  the  right  course  to 
secure  it.  'Walked  out,  and  attended  to  secret  prayer. 
Longed  to  be  filled  with  the  enjoyment  of  God,  so  that  the 
vacanoy  experienced  by  the  loss  of  my  wife  may  be  filled,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  my  soul,  with  rich  abundance.  "When  the 
streams  fail,  O,  to  go  to  the  fountain  head  and  find  enough  ; 
and  that,  too,  which  is  free  from  alloy  !'  A  few  mouths  after. 


356  .  u EM o is.  OF  [1842. 

referring  to  the  death  of  his*  wife,  he  was  led  to  refer  to  that 
of  his  daughter  Mary,  (Mrs.  Chapman)  which  occurred  in 
1825.  On  the  latter,  he  remarks,  '  How  much,  (as  I  have 
reason  to  think,)  she  has  rejoiced  since  that  time,  that  she  got 
to  heaven  so  early  in  life !  How  much  I  mourned  that  she 
was  called  away  so  young :  and  how  much  sin  I  have  com- 
mitted in  so  doing,  the  Lord  knows  infinitely  better  than  I  do.' 

Not  long  after  the  decease  of  his  wife,  he  entered  upon  the 
mission  in  Burlington,  Lincoln  and  vicinity,  already  noticed. 
Before  going,  he  speaks  of  a  great  work  of  grace  in  \Vin- 
throp ;  and,  on  his  way,  of  an  unusual  religious  interest  in 
Bangor.  He  mentions  also  a  powerful  revival  in  Brownville. 

Perhaps  it  is  due  to  his  native  State,  which,  by  the  noble 
legal  stand  she  has  recently  taken  in  the  Cause  of  Temper- 
ance, is  provoking  to  emulation  her  sisters  in  the  confederacy, 
here  to  notice  a  fact  which  may  be  fading  from  the  recollec- 
tion of  many,  and  which  others  do  not  know.  It  is,  that  to 
Maine  belongs  the  credit  of  embracing  the  first  modern  soci- 
ety of  Reformed  Drunkards  which  is  known  to  have  existed. 
On  this  journey  to  the  field  of  his  labor,  he  paused  at  Enfield, 
which  lies  on  the  Penobscot  about  thirty-five  miles  above 
Bangor,  and  visited  the  gentleman  with  whom  the  measure 
originated.  The  following  is  the  record  which  he  gives. 
« Called  on  Esq.  Goodale,*  and  talked  some  time  with  him, 
and  got  the  account  of  his  waking  up  from  an  intemperate 
course,  and  inducing  a  number  of  his  associates  to  join  him  in 
forming  themselves  into  a  temperance  society  on  the  same 
principles  with  the  Washingtonians  in  Baltimore,  and  two 
months  or  more  earlier.  This  was  formed  in  February,  1841; 
and  the  one  in  Baltimore,  in  April  of  the  same  year.  After 
conversing,  I  prayed  with  himland  his  family.'  And,  no  doubt, 
he  poured  out  the  fullness  of  a  warm  and  grateful  heart  for 
God's  unspeakable  goodness  to  him  and  his  household ;  and 

*  His  name  deserves  to  be  preserved,  as  well  a«  that  of  John 
Hawkins. 


1842.]  ,JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  357 

prayed  that  he  and  those  associated  with  him  might  stand  firm 
to  the  principles  they  had  adopted ;  and  that  the  reform  so 
auspiciously  begun  in  that  unhappy  class  of  the  community* 
might  proceed  till  it  embraced  them  all. 

During  the  former  part  of  this  year,  he  performed  the  mis- 
sion which  was  reported  in  June,  1842 ;  and,  in  the  latter  part, 
the  mission  which  was  reported  the  following  year;  so  that  the 
most  of  his  labor  during  the  year  was  bestowed  on  that  field. 
He  speaks  of  some  attention  in  Enfield,  and  some  in  Lee.  In 
Springfield,  he  gathered  a  few  into  the  Lincoln  church.  In 
Burlington  he  found  a  lady  who  was  hopefully  converted  un- 
der his  preaching,  in  Starks,  some  years  previous.  To  be 
made  the  instrument  of  any  good,  he  felt  unworthy ;  and,  in 
view  of  the  privilege  of  being  allowed  to  live  and  labor  for 
Christ,  he  thus  expresses  himself.  '  Blessed  be  the  Lord  for 
all  his  mercies.  I  am  unworthy  of  a  standing  on  his  earth, 
much  less  of  the  privilege  of  a  standing  in  his  church  and  a 
standing  in  the  Ministry,  to  dispense  his  word  and  administer 
the  ordinances  of  his  house.  And  yet  he  favors  me  with  such 
privileges,  and  promises  me,  if  indeed  I  am  one  of  his  children, 
a  place  in  his  kingdom,  and  of  shining  as  a  star,  and  even  as 
the  sun,  if  I  turn  many  to  righteousness.'  And  then,  as  ex- 
pressive of  a  sense  of  his  unworthiness,  he  adds  : '  But  instead 
of  such  glory,  if  I  should  be  dealt  with  according  to  my  deserts, 
I  should  have  the  blackness  'of  darkness  reserved  for  me,  in 
the  lowest  pit  of  ruin  !' 

The  manner  in  which  he  closed  one  of  these  missions,  must 
have  been  somewhat  impressive- to  his  hearers.  He  had 
preached  a  third  time,  on  the  Sabbath,  from  Rev.  6:17,  "The 
great  day  of  his  wrath  is  come;  and  who  shall  be  able  to 
stand  ?''  and  enjoyed  freedom  and  solemnity  in  the  service. 
'  Took  my  leave  of  the  people,  (he  says,)  and  at  the  close 
mentioned  that  as  it  was  common  to  make  appointments,  I 
would  remind  them  that  God  had  made  an  appointment  to 
judge  the  world  on  a  certain  day,  and  that  we  were  solemnly 


3o8  MEMOIR   OK  [1843. 

warned  to  meet  him,  and  be  prepared  to  meet  him  on  that 
day.' 

We  have  witnessed  his  anxiety  and  prayer  that  the  church 
in  Chesterville  might  enjoy  the  stated  ministry  and  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel.  On  the  6th  of  July,  he  assisted  in  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  J.  H.  Conant  as  its  pastor,  —  a  blessing  which, 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  it  has  continued  to  enjoy. 

Some  deaths,  also,  in  the  ministry,  during  the  year,  he  was 
called  to  mourn.  Rev.  Mr.  Gould,  of  Rumfbrd,  departed  this 
life  May  21st ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  May,  of  Strong,  in  the  morning 
of  a  successful  ministry,  on  the  18th  of  May.  The  circle  of 
his  own  immediate  relatives  was  invaded.  His  brother  Daniel, 
of  Kennebunk,  was  removed  Oct.  14th. 

In  the  former  part  of  1843,  in  consequence  of  a  request 
from  the  society  in  Frankfort,  he  labored  there  for  three  months 
—  April,  May,  and  June.  Here  he  preached,  as  usual,  three 
times  almost  every  Sabbath,  and  repeatedly  during  the  week  ; 
and  visited,  conversed,  and  prayed,  with  untiring  diligence. 
Some  special  religious  interest  existed,  and  a  few  hopeful  con- 
versions occurred.  In  August,  he  took  a  tour  eastward,  as  far 
as  Addison  ;  and,  on  the  24th  of  that  month,  assisted  in  the 
installation  of  the  writer  at  Bluehill.  Toward  the  close  of 
September,  he  made  a  trip  to  Houlton,  and  went  thence  into 
Washington  county,  spending  a  number  of  Sabbaths  at  Pem- 
broke, and  others  at  different  places  in  the  vicinity.  While  in 
this  region,  on  the  10th  of  October,  he  assisted  in  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Pond  at  Eastport. 

With  a  few  extracts  from  his  diary,  we  pass  over  the  year. 
'Before  breakfast,  I  read  some  of  Mr.  Edwards's  experience. 
Was  struck  with  his  deep  and  lively  views  of  sin,  and  the 
wonderful  way  of  atonement.  It  served  to  awaken  in  me 
some  similar  feelings.  Read  the  3d  chapter  of  Romans,  which 
brings  depravity  and  grace  to  view,  and  had  an  affecting  sea- 
son in  confessing  sin,  and  repairing  to  the  glorious  righteous- 


1843.]  JOIHAM    SEW  ALL.  359 

ness  of  Christ  for  pardon  and  justification  before  a  holy 
God.' 

In  the  following  manner  he  laments  a  particular  sin.  It 
was  on  Sabbath  evening,  after  he  had  enjoyed  assistance  and 
comfort  in  public  duty.  '  I  found  myself  in  danger  of  pride. 
Felt  some  secret  workings  of  self-approbation,  especially  in 
being  able  to  do  so  well  at  my  age.  [Such  is  the  guileless 
simplicity  with  which  he  expresses  himself.]  Endeavored  to 
watch  and  pray  against  this  accursed  sin,  —  the  sin  which 
drove  the  offending  angels  out  of  heaven,  and  chained  them 
down  in  darkness  forever.  O,  to  be  purged  and  delivered 
from  this  dreadful  sin,  —  always  to  feel  my  dependence  and 
be  kept  humble.  What  have  I  that  I  have  not  received  ? 
Nothing  is  more  unbecoming  than  pride.  It  is  practical 
atheism.  It  is  saying  that  /  am,  and  beside  me  there  is  none 
_else  that  sustains  me !  The  good  Lord  deliver  me  from  such 
dreadful  blasphemy  ! ' 

At  another  time,  he  thus  longs  after  holiness :  '  On  Thurs- 
day last,  as  I  was  riding  along,  I  was  thinking  upon  the  sal- 
vation which  God  had  provided  for  guilty  man,  and  of  its 
being  a  holy  salvation,  and  that  one  great  object  of  Christ's 
suffering  on  the  cross,  was  to  purchase  to  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works,  who  were  finally  to  be  present- 
ed before  God  as  chaste  virgins,  without  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or 
any  such  thing.  I  did  long,  and  earnestly  pray  with  tears, 
that  he  would  give  me  this  salvation,  that  I  might  be  perfectly 
holy,  as  he  had  required  me  to  be.  O,  to  be  perfect,  as  my 
Heavenly  Father  is  perfect,  —  to  be  troubled  with  no  more 
ein  to  all  eternity  ! ' 

It  was  comparatively  rare,  that  in  preaching  he  did  not 
enjoy  such  a  solemn  sense  of  Divine  things,  as  to  feel  a  good 
degree  of  comfort  in  view  of  the  state  of  his  heart.  Some- 
times, however,  it  was  otherwise  ;  and  the  following  extracts 
show  how  he  felt  at  such  times.  They  occur  at  the  close  of 
two  successive  Sabbaths,  during  which  he  had  enjoyed  liberty 


360  MEMOIR    OF  ,      [1844 

in  speaking,  but  not  all  the  solemnity  of  feeling  which  he 
wished.  '  I  love  to  have  a  realizing  sense  of  spiritual  things, 
a  believing  sense  of  the  guilt  and  danger  of  the  impenitent, 
when  I  address  them.  I  am  not  satisfied  with  myself,  unless 
I  feel  something  of  this  when  I  am  speaking  God's  word. 
When,  in  preaching,  I  am  favored  with  such  a  realizing  sense 
of  things,  I  feel  in  a  good  measure  clear  of  blame,  and  that 
the  blood  of  souls  will  not  be  found  upon  my  garments,  and 
that  sooner  or  later  they  will  feel  that  they  have  heard  God's 
truth.'  '  I  enjoyed  freedom  in  speaking,  but  not  all  that  affec- 
tionate, solemn  sense  of  things  which  I  love  to  have,  when  I 
speak  to  fellow-creatures  in  God's  name  about  their  eternal 
interests.  What  multitudes  are  on  the  point  of  perishing 
forever,  and  how  little  I  feel  for  them,  —  talk  about  the  mat- 
ter, when  the  welfare  of  their  never-dying  souls  is  at  stake, 
as  if  it  was  not  of  such  importance  as  I  myself  say  it  is  !  O, 
it  is  such  a  contradiction,  —  so  inconsistent,  —  that  I  am 
sometimes  sick  of  myself.  O,  for  the  quickening  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  my  own  soul.  If  judgment  must 
begin  at  the  house  of  God,  revivals  of  religion  must  begin 
there,  and  especially  with  the  ministers  of  God.  Help,  Lord  ! 
help,  Lord !  for  vain  is  the  help  of  man,  or  even  of  angels, 
without  help  from  thee.' 

In  this  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  we  pass  the  observance  of 
some  days  of  private  fasting  and  prayer  unnoticed.  But  we 
feel  disposed  to  introduce  the  record  of  one  with  which  he 
commenced  the  year  1844.  '  So  my  days  pass  away.  I 
closed  my  eighty-fourth  year  last  evening.  If  the  prophetess 
Anna  was  said  to  be  of  great  age  when  she  was  about  four 
score  and  four  years  old,  this  may  now  be  said  of  me.  But 
how  have  I  spent  these  eighty-four  years  ?  Ah  !  I  have 
much  reason  of  shame  and  blushing,  and  to  exercise  deep 
repentance,  and  plead  for  pardon.  Finding  that  I  could  be 
accommodated  with  a  room  to  myself,*  I  devoted  the  day  to 

*  He  was  novr  at  Disfickl. 


1844.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  361 

fasting  and  prayer.  Endeavored  to  look  over  my  life  and 
into  my  heart,  and  make  confession  before  God,  and  plead  for 
pardon  through  the  all-atoning  blood  of  the  dear  Redeemer. 
Spread  the  case  of  our  country  before  the  Lord,  and  besought 
his  gracious  aid  for  our  rulers,  and  that  he  would  remove  the 
evils  which  abound  among  us,  and  which  call  for  the  ven- 
geance of  heaven.  Besought  the  Lord  to  remove  slavery  from 
us,  and  paralyze  the  efforts  of  the  Romanists,  and  spread  the 
glorious  Gospel  through  all  parts  of  our  land.  Asked  mercy 
for  the  church  at  Chesterville,  and  for  the  church  at  large. 
Pleaded  for  my  relatives,  particularly  for  M.  J 's*  con- 
version.' L}  these  exercises,  he  spent  the  time  from  morning 
till  about  sundown. 

With  this  we  connect  the  record  of  a  similar  season  which 
was  observed  on  the  2d  of  May.  '  Commenced,  after  invoca- 
tion, by  reading  the  first  chapter  of  Romans.  Trust  I  felt  in 
prayer,  that  I  have  the  same  corrupt  disposition  by  nature  as 
the  poor  heathen ;  and  considering  my  opportunities  and  in- 
formation, and  the  light  and  instruction  afforded,  my  trans- 
gressions have  been  more  aggravated,  in  the  sight  of  God, 
than  theirs.  Confessed  my  sins  with  deep  abhorrence,  and 
that  my  ill  desert  was  akin  to  that  of  Sodom.  Then  read  the 
fifty-first  Psalm,  and  besought  the  Lord  to  put  away  mine 
iniquities,  as  he  did  those  of  David,  and  restore  unto  me  the 
joys  of  his  salvation,  and  uphold  me  with  his  free  Spirit. 

Read  the  twelfth  of  Rom.,  and  endeavored  to  devote  myself, 
soul  and  body,  with  all  my  powers  and  faculties,  time  and 
talents,  to  the  Lord,  as  his  reasonable  due,  for  his  service,  as 
long  as  he  shall  see  fit  to  sustain  me  in  life.  Read  the  Epis- 
tles to  Timothy  and  Titus ;  and  prayed  to  be  enabled  to  do 
according  to  those  directions,  and  to  feel  the  force  of  those 
solemn  charges.  Read  the  twenty-fifth  and  one  hundred  and 
third  Psalms ;  and  prayed  for  my  children  separately,  and 

*  A  grand-daughter,  for  whose  salvation  we  find  him  at  other 
times  pleading  very  earnestly. 


362  MEMOIR    OK  ,       [1844. 

their  children,  and  committed  them  to  God  and  his  covenant 
care.  Read  the  thirty-fifth  and  forty-ninth  chapters  of  Isa. ; 
and  pleaded  for  the  church  in  Chesterville.  Read  from  the 
eleventh  to  the  sixteenth  Psalms  inclusive ;  and  besought  the 
Lord  for  our  land,  its  civil  government  and  the  church.  Read 
the  last  chapter  of  Rom. ;  and  prayed  for  many  friends  and 
benefactors,  and  that  the  Lord  would  do  infinitely  better  for 
them  than  they  are  capable  of  doing  for  me.'  Between  these 
two  seasons,  he  also  spent  three  hours  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
annual  State  Fast  in  a  similar  manner,  after  having  performed 
public  services  in  the  forenoon. 

The  greater  part  of  this  year,  as  we  have  already  noticed, 
was  spent  in  the  service  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  in 
Burlington,  Lincoln,  and  vicinity.  In  the  former  of  these 
places,  some  special  religious  interest  existed ;  and  he  gather- 
ed a  few  into  the  church.  The  latter  portion  of  his  labors  in 
this  region  was  principally  bestowed  on  Plantation  No.  6, 
east  of  Springfield.  Here,  few  privileges  had  been  enjoyed, 
much  indifference  to  religion  existed,  and  he  was  pained  by 
many  open  profanations  of  the  Sabbath,  and  that  sometimes 
by  professed  Christians.  One  example  illustrates  these 
intimations,  particularly  that  of  indifference  to  religion  and 
religious  institutions.  A  family  nearest  to  the  place  where 
he  gave  a  Sabbath  evening  lecture,  in  September,  were  thus 
employed :  The  father  had  gone  to  put  brimstone  in  various 
parts  of  his  field  of  corn  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  the  bears, 
which  had  committed  some  depredations;  the  sons  were 
watching  the  cattle,  which  must  be  baited  in  the  field ;  the 
daughters,  with  the  hired  man,  must  witness  the  perform- 
ances of  a  singing-school ;  and  the  mother,  with  no  one  else 
to  do  it  for  her,  must  remain  at  home  with  the  care  of  her 
infant.  Of  a  Sabbath  in  August,  he  had  made  the  following 
record :  '  Was  grieved  to  find  that  so  many  worked  among  the 
hay  to-day.  The  man  where  I  put  up  did  not  go  to  meeting 
at  all,  but  worked  all  day.  And  his  brothers,  though  profes- 


1844.]  JOTHAM    SE-WALL.  363 

sors,  did  something  to  their  hay  after  meeting.'  Surrounded 
by  such  things,  it  is  no  wonder  that  his  spirit  was  stirred 
within  him,  and  that  he  plainly,  though  kindly,  remonstrated 
with  some  of  these  parents  on  the  immorality  of  their  conduct, 
and  the  manner  in  which  they  were  training  their  children. 
It  is  not  strange  that  he  besought  God  earnestly  in  their  be- 
half ;  and  was  hence  ItjJ  to  say,  '  What  should  I  do  without 
prayer  ?  As  a  privilege,  what  should  I  do  without  it  ?  As  a 
source  of  enjoyment,  —  as  a  means  of  communion  with 
heaven,  —  as  a  preparation  for  other  duties,  —  what  should  I 
do  without  it  ? '  His  labors  in  this  region,  however,  were  not 
without  some  encouragement.  To  the  church  in  Springfield, 
he  received  four  members. 

In  his  different  promiscuous  tours  and  labors  during  the 
year,  on  the  first  day  of  February,  he  attended  the  dedication 
of  Winter  Street  Church,  Bath:  on  the  14th  of  the  same 
month,  he  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  A.  Morton  at 
Temple ;  on  the  18th  of  June,  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  E. 
Kellogg  at  Harpswell ;  and  on  the  29th  of  August,  in  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  S.  II.  Hayes  at  Frankfort;  each  to  a 
pastoral  charge. 

At  the  hazard  of  extending  this  volume  to  an  undue  length, 
we  must  give  the  reader  a  few  brief  extracts  from  his  diary 
during  the  year  : — 

'  Find  myself  a  sinful  creature.  The  "  old  man "  is  not 
dead  yet.  O,  for  sanctification  of  heart  and  life.  To  be  in  a 
state  where  no  sinful  thought  will  be  exercised  again,  how 
unspeakably  desirable  !  O,  for  a  proper  detestation  of  every- 
thing sinful.  O,  for  a  more  thorough  hatred  of  sin  as  sm, 
against  God  and  his  holy  law,  and  his  holy  Gospel.  O,  for  a 
greater  love  to  holiness,  to  see,  beside  the  happiness  it  confers 
on  those  who  love  it,  its  intrinsic  nature  and  value.  Unless 
I  have  some  such  exercises  of  love  and  hatred,  I  conclude 
that  I  have  no  scriptural  evidence  of  being  a  child  of  God. 
When  I  have  strong  exercises  of  love  to  God  and  holiness, 


364  MEMOIR    OF  [1845. 

and  hatred  of  sin,  and  a  delight  in  the  truths  of  the  Sacred 
Word,  I  have  no  trouble  about  evidences  of  my  standing  in 
the  household  of  faith.  These  affections  bring  their  own 
evidence  with  them.  I  want  no  other  evidence  that  the  sun 
shines,  than  to  see  its  light.' 

At  another  time,  in  preaching  from  Phil.  1:6,"  Being  con- 
fident of  this  very  thing,  that  he  which  £ath  begun  a  good  work 
in  you  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ," — he  had 
treated  of  the  work  of  sanctification  as  gradual,  and  spoken 
of  those  seasons  of  a  Christian's  entire  acquiescence  in  the 
Divine  will,  and  being  so  swallowed  up  in  it  as  to  have  no 
conscious  actings  of  sin,  even  in  thought,  as  so  many  earnests 
and  foretastes  of  perfect  sanctification  at  length  in  heaven, 
rather  than  evidences  of  perfect  sanctification  here.  And  he 
adds :  '  In  considering  such  seasons  as  earnests  of  the  final 
state  of  holiness,  I  had  some  peculiar  views  and  feelings. 
The  final  perfect  state  seemed  like  a  shoreless,  bottomless 
ocean,  and  such  seasons  as  rills,  —  small  rills  from  the  ex- 
haustless  fountain  of  Divine  grace.  The  comparison,  as  to 
extent  and  duration,  seemed  feeble ;  and  my  soul  seemed 
swallowed  up  and  lost  in  the  boundless  prospect  in  the  eternal 
world.' 

In  the  former  part  of  1845,  he  completed  a  mission  for  six 
months,  which  he  had  undertaken,  at  Burlington  and  vicinity. 
While  here,  the  anniversary  of  his  wife's  death  occurred, — 
his  reflections  upon  which  may  not  be  unacceptable.  'Three 
years  ago  this  day,  my  wife  closed  her  mortal  life.  I  trust 
she  has  been  all  that  time  in  heaven  ;  and,  if  so,  they  have 
been  a  happy  three  years  to  her.  Three  years  without  sin 
or  sorrow,  —  in  a  state  of  perfect  holiness  and  happiness ! 
Hail,  glorified  soul !  got  safe  to  heaven  at  last.  No  more  to 
groan  under  the  evils  of  this  mortal  state.  No  more  to  be 
tried  and  vexed  with  disappointments  and  increasing  anxieties 
of  various  kinds  !  —  a  final  release  has  come  at  last ;  and  all 


1845.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  365 

that  remains  to  complete  thy  enjoyment  is  the  resurrection  of 
thy  "  vile  body,"  as  the  Apostle  calls  it,  when  it  will  be  made  a 
spiritual  body,  transformed  into  the  likeness  of  Christ's  glori- 
fied body.  I  hope  to  know  something  of  this  glorious  change 
at  last.  Oh,  what  a  change  it  must  be,  —  to  exchange  earth 
for  heaven,  sin  for  perfect  holiness,  darkness  for  light,  the 
society  of  imperfect,  sinful  mortals  for  the  society  of  holy 
angels  and  glorified  saints,  —  the  temptations  of  the  devil  for 
the  smiles  and  enjoyment  of  the  ever  blessed  Jehovah  and 
Saviour  !  To  exchange  this  vile  body,  also,  for  a  glorified 
body  like  unto  Christ's  glorious  body  !  •  Oh,  wonderful !  Oh, 
scenes  surpassing  wonder! — there  to  find  fulfilled  the  promises 
of  a  state  of  holiness  and  happiness  that  eye  here  has  never 
seen,  or  heart  conceived.  But  the  Holy  One  hath  seen,  and 
promised,  and  safely  laid  it  up  for  all  those  that  love  him,  and 
wait  upon  him  here.  They  shall  glorify  him  hereafter  in 
consummate  blessedness.  They  shall  no  more  groan,  and 
doubt,  and  weep,  and  mourn  as  we  do  here  ;  but  all  tears 
shall  be  forever  wiped  from  their  eyes,  and  all  sorrow  ban- 
ished forever  from  their  now  aching,  but  then  rejoicing, 
adoring  hearts.' 

While  on  this  mission^he  organized  a  small  church  at  Pas- 
sadumkeag,  March  2d.  In  May  he  attended  the  anniversa- 
ries in  Boston,  and  tarried  a  few  days  in  the  vicinity.  While 
there,  his  friend,  Mr.  George  J.  Homer,  of  Boston,  died ;  and 
he  gives  the  following  brief  tribute  to  the  memory  of  that 
excellent  man.  Spending  the  Sabbath,  June  8th,  with  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Ide,  of  Medway,  he  says, '  News  came  that  Mr.  G. 
J.  Homer,  of  Boston,  died  on  Saturday,  about  one  o'clock.  So 
my  benefactor  is  gone !  A  few  days  ago  I  was  sharing  his 
hospitality  ;  now  he  is  gone,  I  doubt  not,  to  share  the  hospi- 
talities of  heaven.  I  am  not  able  to  reward  him  for  his  kind- 
ness to  me ;  but  the  Lord  is  able,  and  will  do  it.  Not  one  of 
all  the  good  deeds  he  has  done  will  be  forgotten.  Though  he 
forgot  them,  and  placed  no  dependence  upon  them  for  accept- 
31* 


366  MEMOIR  or  [1845. 

ance  with  God,  - —  yet  the  Lord  will  graciously  remember 
them.'  The  next  day  he  attended  his  funeral ;  and  after 
looking  upon  the  corpse,  he  says, '  I  think  I  never  saw  a  coun- 
tenance less  changed  by  death  than  his.  It  seemed  as  if  the_ 
kindness  and  benevolence  of  the  soul  was  left  impressed  upon 
the  lifeless  features.' 

We  will  here  introduce  an  extract  from  a  record  in  his 
diary,  made  about  this  time.  He  had  been  meditating  upon 
the  humanity  and  divinity  of  Christ ;  and  the  admiration  and 
fervor  of  his  heart  thus  break  out :  '  What  a  wonderful,  glori- 
ous, mysterious,  ALMIGHTY  Redeemer  the  Saviour  is  !  Who 
need  fear  to  trust  in  him  ?  What  a  wicked,  ungrateful  wretch 
I  have  been,  to  refuse  to  trust  him  so  long !  More  than 
twenty-three  years  of  my  life  rolled  off,  while  I  repeatedly 
refused  him,  and  grieved  away  the  blessed  Spirit.  What  a 
wonder  that  I  was  not  left  to  perish  forever.  How  could  the 
Holy  Dove  bear  so  many  refusals,  and  yet  return  and  change 
this  heart  ?  How  many  misgivings,  how  much  unbelief,  have 
occupied  my  wicked  heart  since.  Will  my  merciful  God  and 
Redeemer 

:c forgive  my  follies  past, 


And  <rivc  me  pracc  for  time  to  come  ?  "  ' 

Added  to  all  his  previous  afflictions,  toward  the  close  of  the 
season  he  experienced  another  painful  bereavement.  He  was 
calculating  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  American  Board  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  expecting  to  be  accompanied  by  his 
brother  and  his  wife,  of  Augusta.  On  the  4th  of  September 
he  left  with  this  expectation  ;  and  on  reaching  his  brother's 
door,  was  met  by  the  unexpected  announcement,  "  Your 
brother  died  this  morning."  A  few  days'  sickness,  of  which 
he  had  not  heard,  thus  fatally  terminated.  '  So,  (he  says,)  on 
the  very  day  he  had  calculated  to  leave  home  for  New  York, 
he  was  called  to  take  a  very  different  journey,  —  to  leave  this 
earthly  state,  and  enter  upon  the  untried  scenes  of  eternity ! 


184G.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  867 

But  I  trust  he  has  entered  into  peace.  As  soon  as  I  could,  I 
got  alone,  and  acknowledged  the  Lord's  holy  hand,  and  sove- 
reign right  to  call  away  my  brother  just  at  this  time,  and 
under  just  these  circumstances ;  and  besought  him  to  recon- 
cile me  to  the  bereavement  and  disappointment,  and  sanctify 
it  to  my  good.  So  he  is  gone,  and  I  shall  have  no  more  in- 
terviews with  him  in  this  world.  Well,  I  have  reason  to  be 
thankful  that  he  was  continued  so  long,  and  that  I  have  had 
so  much  sweet  intercourse  with  him  since  we  experienced  re- 
ligion. But  I  hope  for  a. better  interview,  and  of  longer  con- 
tinuance hereafter.'  This  event  made  him  feel,  more  than 
ever,  alone  in  the  world,  as  he  had  now  neither  brother  nor 
sister  left.  After  his  brother's  funeral,  he  proceeded  to  Brook- 
lyn, and  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Board. 

After  his  return  from  New  York,  he  labored  a  while  in  the 
county  of  Waldo,  principally  in  Monroe  and  Swanville,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society. 

During  the  year,  he  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  a  Mr. 
Chapman  as  an  evangelist,  at  Fryeburg,  June  23d  ;  in  the 
ordination  of  a  Mr.  Copeland  as  missionary,  at  E.  Brewer, 
October  8th ;  and  at  the  installation  of  his  youngest  son  at 
Castine,  November  5th.  He  observed  four  seasons  of  private 
fasting  and  prayer." 

During  a  number  of  weeks  in  the  former  part  of  1846,  he 
labored  in  North  Belfast.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  he  was  inde- 
fatigable in  his  labors.  And  here,  as  elsewhere,  we  find  him 
pleading,  with  great  earnestness,  for  particular  individuals. 
Two  appear  to  have  laid  with  great  weight  upon  his  mind ; 
and  for  one  of  these,  (with  the  other  the  writer  is  unacquaint- 
ed,) it  is  hoped  that  his  intercessions  were  not  in  vain.  Here 
also,  as  elsewhere,  a  sweet  savor  of  his  remembrance,  as  the 
writer  has  had  opportunity  to  know,  remains  in  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  many. 

During  the  year  he  performed  a  three  months'  mission,  in 
the  employ  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  in  Franklin 


368  MEMO  IB    OF  [184G. 

county;  laboring  in  different  places,  particularly  in  the 'destitute 
newer  towns  and  settlements  in  the  north  part.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  year,  he  spent  a  number  of  weeks  in  Flagstaff,  — 
a  settlement  near  the  mouth  of  Dead  river,  a  branch  of  the 
Kennebeck,  in  Somerset  county,  some  forty  or  fifty  miles 
north  of  Norridgewock.  New  and  difficult  roads,  notwith- 
standing his  age,  and  the  want  of  youthful  activity  which  he 
now  experienced,  were,  to  him,  no  insuperable  obstacles. 
Love  to  his  Master  and  his  work,  and  the  souls  of  his  fellow- 
men,  together  with  the  natural  energy  of  his  mind,  urged  him 
forward.  If  he  found,  as  he  did  here  in  one  instance,  the 
passing  so  bad  that,  with  a  '  broken-down  bridge,  and  a  num- 
ber of  windfalls  which  it  took  some  time  to  get  round,  and 
over,  and  by,'  six  miles  of  distance  cost  him  three  hours  of 
effort,  he  was  not  thereby  deterred.  He  sought  not  ease  for 
himself.  Like  his  Divine  Master,  he  wished  to  accomplish  the 
•work  assigned  him  ;  and  he  considered  it  not  accomplished,  so 
long  as  ability  to  accomplish  it  remained.  —  We  have  before 
noticed  it  as  a  trait  in  his  character  to  'go  out  into  the 
highways  and  hedges,'  if  there  he  might  succeed  in  winning 
souls  to  Christ.  And  when  he  was  not  in  the  employ  of  any 
missionary  or  other  society,  he  sought  out  places  where  he 
might  proclaim  the  Gospel.  He  never  spent  an  idle  Sabbath 
when  he  was  able  to  preach,  and  could  find  a  place  for  the 
exercise  of  his  gifts ;  and  he  was  seldom  satisfied  without 
having  more  or  less  of  lectures  during  the  week.  Twice, 
while  on  the  Dead  river,  we  find  him  pressing  into  the  forest, 
and  preaching  in  the  logging  camps,  and  then  taking  the  rough 
fare  and  lodging  of  the  camp  for  the  night.  And  in  these 
lectures,  his  characteristic  appropriateness  is  seen  in  his  speak- 
ing from  the  texts,  "  He  found  him  in  a  desert  land,  and  a 
waste  howling  wilderness,"  etc. ;  and,  "  The  voice  of  one  cry- 
ing in  the  wilderness,  —  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
make  his  paths  straight." 

While  performing  his  mission  in  Franklin  county,  he  found 


1847.]  JOTHAM    SEYTALL.  369 

the  Congregational  church  in  Freeman  reduced,  by  deaths 
and  removals,  to  three  members  ;  and  that  in  Starks,  by  the 
same  causes,  to  a  single  member,  and  that  one  a  widow  eighty- 
eight  years  old.  Some  of  the  arrows  of  death,  also,  found 
their  victims  among  his  acquaintance  and  friends.  In  May, 
we  find  him  lamenting  the  death  of  the  youthful  and  excel- 
lent pastor  of  Belfast  church,  Rev.  E.  G.  Cutler.  On  the 
26th  of  the  same  month,  his  good  friend,  judge  Williamson, 
of  Bangor,  author  of  the  History  of  Maine,  departed  this 
life;  and  on  the  21st  of  November,  another  of  the  six  Chris- 
tian brothers,  who  enjoyed  so  much  sweet  religious  intercourse 
in  the  early  settlement  of  Chesterville, —  Mr.  William  Brad- 
bury, after  an  uncommonly  exemplary  life,  went  to  his  reward 
above. 

Aside  from  another  three  months'  mission  in  the  county  of 
Franklin,  his  labors  during  the  year  1847,  were  miscellaneous ; 
but  he  was  not  less  diligent  in  them  than  in  former  years.  He 
could  scarcely  suffer  the  infirmities  of  age  to  interfere  at  all 
with  the  amount  of  what  he  attempted  to  do.  Almost  uniform- 
ly he  preached  three  times  Non  the  Sabbath ;  and  in  a  number 
of  instances,  four.  During  his  twelve  weeks'  mission,  he 
preached  an  average  of  more  than  once  a  day.  Not  even  a 
lameness,  with  which  he  suffered  considerably  toward  the 
close  of  the  year,  could  entirely  withhold  him  from  the  pub- 
lic duties  of  his  office.  More  than  once,  when  he  could  not 
stand,  he  preached  in  a  sitting  posture.  As  another  instance 
of  his  diligence  and  perseverance,  —  we  find  him  when  en- 
gaged in  his  mission  in  the  upper  part  of  Franklin  county, 
going  beyond  the  ground  he  had  formerly  trodden,  to  the 
4  Lake  Settlement,'  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Androscoggin. 
"We  find  him  also  again,  for  a  Sabbath  or  two,  on  the  Dead 
river,  at  Flagstaff. 

His  lameness  occasioned  him  two  silent  Sabbaths  near  the 
close  of  the  year.  On  one  of  these  he  says,  '  I  have  not 


370  MEMOIR  OP  [1847 

spent  a  Sabbath  so  before,  for  a  long  time.  It  reminded  me 
of  1801,  when  I  kept  house  three  Sabbaths,  and  supposed  I 
might  not  live.  But,  at  length,  I  found  myself  recovering. 
It  seemed  like  drawing  a  curtain  between  me  and  the  eternal 
world.  This  passage  came  with  much  force  to  my  mind,  "  I 
shall  not  die,  but  live,  and  declare  the  works  of  the  Lord." 
I  preached  from  it  the  first  Sabbath  I  was  able  to  resume 
public  labor.  I  firmly  believed  I  should  live  a  number  of 
years,  and  preach  God's  word  and  works.  And  so  it  has 
taken  place.  But  how  much  longer  it  will  be  before  my  fur- 
lough closes,  I  krfow  not.  But  He  who  gave  it  knows,  though 
he  has  concealed  from  me  the  date.  It  is  all  open  to  him ; 
and  he  will  lay  it  open  to  me  when  the  term  is  run  out ;  and 
that  will  be  time  enough  for  me  to  know.  Oh,  to  be  faithful 
while  I  do  live,  that  I  may  give  up  a  comfortable  account  at 
last.  It  is  now  nearly  fifty  years  since  I  began  to  preach. 
Have  fifty  souls  got  to  heaven  by  my  means  ?  If  one  soul 
reaches  heaven  through  my  instrumentality,  it  will  be  an  in- 
finite mercy.  To  have  one  soid  for  the  crown  of  my  rejoic- 
ing will  be  infinitely  more  than  I  deserve.' 

At  another  time,  having  enjoyed  the  devotions  of  the 
morning,  he  says,  '  The  gracious  presence  of  the  Lord  can 
make  such  services  pleasant  at  any  time  and  at  any  place. 

"  'Tis  heaven  to  rest  in  thine  embrace, 
And  no  where  else  but  there." 

Could  I  rest  or  dwell  there,  I  should  find  heaven  begun  be- 
low. Then  would  my  state  bear  some  humble  resemblance 
to  that  of  Christ,  when  he  said,  "  The  Son  of  man  which  is 
in  heaven"  But,  whether  I  shall  enjoy  so  much  of  heaven 
on  earth,  if  I  am  indeed  one  of  Christ's  faithful  followers,  I 
have  the  assurance  in  his  word,  that,  when  I  shall  see  him 
as  he  is,  even  this  vile  body  shall  be  made  like  unto  his  glo- 
rious body. 

li  Oh,  glorious  hour  !  oh,  blest  abode ! " 
I  shall  be  near  and  like  ray  God." 


1847.]  JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  371 

Then  there  will  be  no  more  occasion  of  groaning  under  the 
remains  of  indwelling  sin,  or  of  longing  to  be  delivered  from 
the  body  of  this  death.  Then  I  shall  have  that  complete  de- 
liverance which  I  have  been  praying  for  here,  and  have  the 
perfect  conformity  to  God  which  he  requires.  What  a  state 
of  glory  that  will  be ! ' 

Near  the  commencement  of  this  year,  he  assisted  in  one 
ordination  —  that  of  Mr.  Pliny  F.  Barnard,  at  Richmond. 
This  occurred  on  the  14th  of  June.  In  August  he  took  a 
journey  to  Boston,  and,  at  the  request  of  a  friend,  sat  for  a 
crayon  likeness. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

HIS    LAST    LABORS. SICKNESS. DEATH. — AKO     CHAR- 
ACTER. 

As  another  year  opened  upon  him,  there  is  no  evidence  of 
any  special  presentiment  that  he  was  nearing  tae  boundary 
of  his  earthly  existence.  One  thing,  however,  which  he  did, 
was  as  we  should  have  anticipated  on  the  supposition  of  such 
a  presentiment.  When  the  spring  had  sufficiently  advanced 
and  the  roads  became  settled,  he  took  a  tour,  as  if  to  visit, 
for  the  last  time,  some  of  his  much-loved  friends,  and  cast  his 
eye  again  over  scenes  which  had  been  hallowed  to  him  by 
the  Spirit's  presence  in  former  years.  He  visited,  and  spent 
a  little  time  with  the  writer,  then  in  Woolwich ;  his  youngest 
son  in  Castine ;  his  sons-in-law,  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman  at  Cam- 
den,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Billings,  at  Addison ;  and  his  grandson  in 
Robbinston.  He  thus  travelled  over  ground  which  he  had 
often  traversed  before ;  revived  the  remembrance  of  former 
events ;  looked  in  upon  the  few  old  friends  which  were  left, 
and  greeted  many  others  of  younger  years ;  and  preached, 
and  visited,  and  prayed  as  he  went  and  came.  Nor  had  ad- 
vancing years  dried  up  his  sensibilities  or  his  tears.  He 
sympathized  as  tenderly  with  those  whom  he  found  in  afflic- 
tion, and  prayed  as  fervently  for  them  and  for  others,  as  on 
former  occasions.  And  if  his  preaching  possessed  not  all  the 
vivacity  or  strength  and  energy  of  thought  which  character- 
ized his  earlier  ministrations,  it  was  still  instructive  and  edi- 
fying. We  have  an  instance  of  the  fervor  of  his  feeling,  as 
he  was  returning.  He  called  on  a  family  in  Jonesboro,  with 
which  he  had  been  formerly  acquainted,  where  the  wife  was 


1848.]  JOTHAM     SKWALL. 

not  pious.  He  had  conversed,  and  read,  and  prayed,  and  en- 
joyed a  solemn  season.  'After  I  left,  (he  says,)  I  prayed 
for  her  as  I  passed  along  the  road.  Coming  soon  to  a  piece 
of  wood,  I  wept  aloud  for  her.  Oh,  that  the  Lord  would 
hear  and  answer,  as  he  once  did  when  I  prayed  in  such  a 
manner  for  a  school-mistress,  in  her  school  and  after  I  left, 
in  the  town  of  Paris,  who  afterwards  became  pious.' 

This  tour  occupied  him  about  two  months ;  and,  on  his 
return,  he  attended  the  State  Conference  at  Bangor.  Divine 
Providence  sustained  him  two  years  more.  But  to  these 
children,  (with  one  exception,)  and  to  the  easterly  part  of 
the  State,  this  was  his  last  visit :  and,  had  he  possessed  the 
spirit  of  prophecy,  he  might  have  said  with  Paul,  in  refer- 
ence to  that ''region  and  to  most  whom  he  then  saw,  "And 
now,  behold,  I  know  that  all  ye  among  whom  I  have  gone 
preaching  the  kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more." 
But  the  veil,  under  which  the  future  lay  wisely  concealed, 
saved  many  a  pang  of  anguish,  and  many  a  bitter  tear, 
which,  otherwise,  had  been  felt  and  shed. 
.  This  year  also  he  had  a  three  months'  mission  in  Franklin 
county,  which  he  faithfully  performed :  and  the  next  annual 
report  of  the  Society  bears  the  following  honorable  testimony 
respecting  him  and  his  labors.  '  Upon  no  one  might  the  title 
of  bishop  of  Maine  have  been  conferred  with  more  propriety, 
on  account  of  widely  extended  visits  and  labors,  than  upon 
this  revered  and  beloved  man.  To  but  few  ministers  of 
Christ  might  a  larger  number  of  persons  give  the  appellation 
in  its  best  sense,  of  their  "  father  in  God,"  than  to  him. 
Though  he  has  entered  upon  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  life, 
yet  his  '  natural  force '  has  not  been,  until  of  late,  very  per- 
ceptibly abated.  In  fulfilling  his  mission  the  last  autumn,  he 
travelled  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  miles,  preached 
eighty  times,  made  one  hundred  and  fifty  family  visits,  at- 
tended seven  conference  meetings,  administered  the  Lord's 
Supper  three  times,  baptized  one  adult  and  two  children, 
32 


374  MEMOIR   OP  [1848. 

visited  a  few  Sabbath  schools  and  other  schools,  attended  one 
association,  and  assisted  in  ordaining  Mr.  Clark  in  Phillips.' 
The  last  named  service  was  performed  October  5th ;  and  it 
was  the  last  ordination  in  which  he  assisted.  The  above  re- 
port was  made  after  a  dreadful  sickness,  which  we  are  soon 
to  notice ;  and  the  remark  respecting  the  abatement  of  his 
natural  force  refers  to  the  effects  of  that  upon  him.  Judging 
simply  by  the  amount  of  labor  he  performed,  it  might  indeed 
be  said  that  this  had  not,  till  recently,  very  'perceptibly' 
abated.  But  he  had  for  years  felt  his  physical  energy  dimin- 
ishing. When  at  home,  he  found  that  the  little  pieces  of 
labor  which  he  performed  were  more  and  more  fatiguing  to 
him.  The  strength  and  ease  with  which  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  walk  were  materially  impaired.  A  staff  had  be- 
come a  very  desirable  help ;  and  sometimes  he  was  willing  to 
avail  himself  of  the  strength  of  another  by  his  side.  Being 
under  the  necessity  of  walking  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to 
the  place  of  meeting  on  the  Sabbath  not  long  since,  we  found 
him  obliged  to  sit  down  once  or  twice,  and  reaching  the  place 
with  some  difficulty.  Still  he  would  labor.  No  infirmity 
which  interposed  less  than  an  insurmountable  obstacle,  could 
deter  him.  "  Occupy  till  I  come  "  was  a  command  which  he 
wished  literally  to  obey.  And  the  present,  which  was  essen- 
tially the  last  year  of  his  ministerial  life,  was  as  diligently 
and  faithfully  filled  up  as  those  which  had  preceded  it. 

Omitting  other  extracts  which  might  be  made  from  his 
diary,  the  following  shows  that  he  was  not  destitute  of  taste, 
or  the  powers  of  criticism.  '  Read  most  of  the  day  in  Pay- 
son's  Sermons.  They  are  excellent.  His  appeals  to  the 
heart  and  conscience  are  pungent.  But  I  dislike  his  person- 
ifying faculties  and  things  so  often ;  and  especially  the  con- 
science in  the  feminine  gender.  When  he  represents  it  as 
roaring,  lashing,  and  thundering  condemnation  against  the 
guilty,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  putting  the  female  character  quite 
out  of  place.  The  use  of  the  neuter  gender  would  be  far 


1849.]  JOTHAM     SEW  AM,.  375 

more  agreeable  to  me :  and  then  the  conscience  would  be  imme- 
diately referred  to,  and  the  sentences  would  bq  more  forcible 
and  expressive.  I  think  that  the  famous  Dr.  Watts  missed 
it  greatly,  when,  in  one  of  his  hymns,  he  personates  ven- 
*  geance  in  the  feminine  gender : 

"  Vengeance  receives  the  dread  command, 
And  armed  down  she  flies." 

Where,  in  all  the  Bible,  have  we  an  instance  of  God's  deput- 
ing a  female,  especially  as  a  minister  of  wrath  ?  I  should 
like  the  masculine  much  better :  — 

"  And  armed  down  he  flies." 

To  wield  a  sword,  and  execute  wrath,  belongs  rather  to  a 
man.' 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  away  from  home,  he  took  up 
the  Christian  Mirror,  and,  to  his  astonishment,  saw  announced 
the  death  of  his  long-tried  and  excellent  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Gillet,  which  occurred  on  the  19th  of  October.  'It  is  diffi- 
cult to  realize,  (he  says,)  that  I  shall  see  and  converse  with 
him  no  more  in  this  world.  Gone  —  gone  — forever  gone  ! ' 

Near  the  close  of  January,  1849,  he  went  to  Bethel,  and 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  a  second  Congregational 
Church  there,  and  the  dedication  of  a  meeting-house.  The 
Church  was  formed  the  31st  of  the  month,  and  the  house 
dedicated  the  day  following.  This  was  the  last  Council  in 
which  he  sat,  and  these  the  last  services  of  the  kind  in  which 
he  engaged.  lie  went  thence  to  Portland-  and  Kennebunk, 
and  returned  through  Sumner  and  Dixfield.  He  reached 
home  Feb.  27th.  The  weather,  for  a  portion  of  the  time, 
\was  extremely  cold ;  and  in  parts  of  the  journey,  having  to 
face  a  severe  wind,  he  suffered  considerably.  He  had  scarcely 
reached  home,  however,  when  he  wished  to  take  another 
journey  to  Bingham.  From  this,  as  well  as  the  previous 


376  MEMOIR   OF  [1849. 

journey,  the  son  with  whom  he  lived  endeavored  to  dissuade 
him,  not  deeming  it  safe  that  one  so  far  advanced  should  be 
thus  exposed.  But  he  had  been  out  and  returned  so  often 
in  safety,  that  he  felt  no  danger.  Passing  through  Kingh'eld, 
he  spent  a  Sabbath  there,  and  reached  Bingham  the  9th  of 
March.  Here  he  was  violently  seized  with  erysipelas,  of 
which  he  had  previously  had  some  slight  attacks.  Reason 
was  partially  dethroned ;  and,  for  a  part  of  the  time,  he 
scarcely  knew  where,  or  how,  or  what  he  was.  On  looking 
back  after  his  recover}',  he  found,  that,  somewhere,  he  had 
lost  a  fortnight.  So  much  time  had  passed,  of  which  he  had 
no  recollection.  At  Bingham  he  remained  about  three  weeks  ; 
and  then,  in  an  attempt  to  move  homeward,  he  was  arrested 
by  a  storm  at  South  Anson,  and  there  remained  an  equal 
length  of  tune.  With  much  difficulty,  on  the  19th  of  April, 
he  reached  home.  Here  for  some  weeks,  his  life  still  hung 
in  doubt.  His  sickness  was  severe ;  and  it  was  a  painful 
question,  in  the  minds  of  those  who  surrounded  him,  whether 
he  would  rise  from  it,  or  sink  into  the  grave.  At  length  he 
began  slowly  to  recover.  But  it  was  not  till  the  beginning 
of  July,  that  he  was  able  to  go  abroad.  Sabbath,  the  15th 
of  that  month,  he,  for  the  first  time,  visited  the  sanctuary. 
On  the  evening  of  that  day,  a  prayer  meeting,  as  had  been 
customary,  was  held  at  his  house.  A  few  only  attended,  but 
he  appears  to  have  enjoyed  it,  and  made  the  following  entry 
in  his  diary.  '  The  Lord  can  make  a  good  meeting  where 
there  are  only  a  few.  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  to- 
gether in  his  name,  there  is  he  in  the  midst  of  them  to  bless 
them.  Oh,  what  a  mercy  to  have  the  Lord  in  the  midst  of 
an  assembly  of  praying  souls.  He  is  not  so  backward  as 
some  of  his  professed  children.  He  is  there.  His  place  is 
not  empty.' 

From  the  effects  of  this  sickness  he  never  entirely  recovered. 
His  constitution  had  been  too  severely  shaken  to  regain  its 
former  firmness.  His  ruling  passion,  however,  was  strong. 


1850.]  JOTHAM    SEWALL.  377 

He  longed  to  resume  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  To  preach 
Christ  had  been  his  life ;  and  it  was  like  death  to  think  of 
relinquishing  it.  He  wished,  while  God  spared  him,  to  be 
still  trying  to  do  good.  But  now  it  was  evidently  unsafe  for 
him  to  go  abroad  alone.  This,  all  around  him  saw.  But  it 
was  difficult  for  one  who  had  enjoyed  such  health  as  he  had, 
and  who  for  fifty  years  had  been  almost  constantly  in  motion, 
to  relinquish  habits  of  half  a  century's  standing,  or  to  think  it 
unsafe  for  him  to  do  what  he  had  so  long  done.  It  was  diffi- 
cult for  him  to  yield  to  the  correctness  of  the  opinion  of  those 
who  endeavored  to  impress  the  danger  upon  him.  Nor  is  this 
strange,  when  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  are  considered, 
and  it  is  remembered  that  second-childhood,  slow  in  coming, 
had  at  length  overtaken  him.  He,  however,  in  good  measure, 
brought  his  mind  to  his  condition.  He  had  been  too  long 
habituated  to  notice  the  orderings  of  Divine  Providence  in 
everything,  and  to  see  how  these  often  crossed  his  cherished 
desires,  to  refuse  an  acquiescence  which  he  had  so  often  learned 
that  it  was  his  happiness  to  yield.  As  his  health  improved, 
however,  he  found  opportunity  to  preach  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  occasionally.  But  he  now  chiefly  occupied  his  time 
in  preparing  a  sketch  of  his  life  ;  and  he  found  it  pleasant 
and  profitable  to  review  his  past  history  and  the  dealings  of 
God  with  him.  And  it  was  a  mercy  that  he  was  spared  for 
this  purpose.  Had  he  been  removed  by  the  sickness  we  have 
just  noticed,  a  vacancy  had  existed  in  his  history  which  no 
one  could  have  supplied. 

His  health  and  strength  continued  somewhat  to  improve 
during  the  remainder  of  this  year,  and  the  commencement  of 
the  next.  In  June,  1850,  he  was  extremely  desirous  to  at- 
tend the  meeting  of  the  Maine  State  Conference,  which  was 
to  be  at  South  Berwick.  Things  were  so  situated  at  home, 
that  no  one  could  go  with  him  ;  and  his  children  were  loath 
that  he  should  undertake  the  journey  alone.  His  persever- 
ance again  prevailed.  The  day  before  he  started,  however, 

32* 


878  MEMOIR    OF  [1850. 

he  was  reminded  of  his  own  frailty  by  hearing  of  the  death 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Henry  Sewall  of  Sangerville,  which 
occurred  in  the  former  part  of  the  month.  By  stage  and  rail- 
road, he  reached  Kennebunk,  Friday  the  21st.  Here  he  stop- 
ped and  preached  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cressey  the  following  Sab- 
bath. The  next  week,  his  venerable  form  was  again  seen  at 
the  State  Conference.  Here,  too,  his  strong,  clear  voice  was 
heard,  as  strong  and  clear  as  ever,  pouring  out  the  fullness  of 
a  devout  heart  in  prayer  to  God.  Seldom,  if  ever,  had  he 
been  more  appropriate,  dignified,  and  fervent.  It  was  not  the 
flickering  of  a  taper,  burnt  far  down  in  the  socket,  and  blazing 
up  to  expire.  It  was  the  effusion  of  a  mind  still  logical  and 
strong ;  of  a  heart  still  glowing  with  the  warmth  of  piety ;  of 
a  soul  tending  upward  to  heaven,  and  nearly  ripe  for  nobler 
worship  there.  This  was  the  last  time  that  he  was  to  lead 
the  devotions  of  the  assembled  multitude  of  Christians  in  this 
their  holy  convocation.  The  reader  doubtless  remembers 
that  the  meeting  of  the  Maine  State  Conference  was  in  con- 
nection with  that  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society.  At  the 
forming  of  this  society,  in  1807,  he  was  present,  and  assisted. 
And  it  is  interesting  to  notice,  that,  of  its  forty-three  subse- 
quent meetings,  reckoning  up  to  this  time,  he  had  missed  only 
four.  The  first  of  these  was  in  1828,  when  he  was  assisting 
the  writer,  then  in  feeble  health,  in  an  interesting  work  of  grace 
among  the  people  of  his  charge ;  the  meeting  being  in  a  dis- 
tant part  of  the  State.  The  second  was  the  year  following, 
occasioned  by  his  being  appointed  delegate  from  the  Maine 
State  Conference  to  the  General  Association  of  Massachusetts, 
which  met  at  the  same  time.  The  third,  in  1831,  he  was  labor- 
ing in  Bangor  and  vicinity  in  an  interesting  revival  of  religion, 
which  he  could  not  leave  for  a  journey  of  some  hundred  and 
forty  miles,  to  reach  the  place.  •  The  fourth  was  occasioned 
by  the  fearful  sickness  which  w4  have  just  noticed. 

From  South  Berwick  he  went  to  Boston,  which  he  was 
very  anxious  to  do,  as  he  thought  it  might  be  the  last  oppor- 


1850.]  JOTHAlf   SB-WALL.  379 

tunity  he  should  have  to  visit  friends  in  that  vicinity.  And  the 
interviews  which  he  had  with  them,  as  "wejl  as  those  whom  he 
met  at  South  Berwick,  he  enjoyed  very  much.  He  preached 
one  Sabbath  for  Dr.  Burgess  of  Dedham,  and  gave  a  Sab- 
bath-evening lecture  at  East  Boston.  He  climbed  Bunker- 
Hill  Monument,  giving  its  height  and  <the  number  of  steps  in 
the  ascent;  and  visited  Lexington,  where  the  first  blood  of 
the  American  Revolution  was  spilt.  He  recognized  localities, 
though  he  did  not  recollect  having  been  there  fince  1775. 

After  returning  home,  which  he  reachedjhe  llth  of  July, 
he  preached  a  few  times.  His  last  Sabbath's  -labor  was  in 
North  Fayette,  Aug.  17th.  He  preached  three  times  ;  and  his 
sermons  are  spoken  of  as  interesting,  and  his  prayers, 
especially,  as  devout  and  edifying.  From  this  day's  labor  he 
returned,  the  first  of  the  week,  calling,  conversing,  and  pray- 
*  ing  in  families,  as  he  passed. 

The  powers  of  nature  now  began  to  fail.  He  was  attacked 
by  a  diarrhoea,  which  reduced  him  much.  Before  he  recoverd 
from  this,  a  profuse  hemorrhage  from  the  nose  occurred,  by 
which,  before  it  could  be  arrested,  he  lost  much  blood.  This 
occurred  the  last  of  August,  and  reduced  him  still  more.  But 
nature  was  slow  to  yield.  He  still  kept  about,  though  af- 
flicted with  loss  of  appetite  and  nausea,  and,  at  length,  with 
dropsy.  Towartl  the  close  of  September,  his  youngest  son  and 
his  family,  from  Castine,  visited  him.  Before  he  left,  a  kind 
of  family-visit  was  made  him,  by  collecting  the  children, 
grand-children,  etc.,  residing  in  the  neighborhood.  This  he 
peemed  to  enjoy  much ;  and,  at  its  close,  offered  one  of  his 
warm,  appropriate  prayers,  particularizing  persons  and  cir- 
cumstances. After  this,  which  was  a  week  before  his  death, 
he  kept  his  room,  but  was  not  confined  to  his  bed.  No  very 
manifest  change  occurred,,  except  that  he  grew  weaker.  The 
last  day  of  his  life,  he  wa£  dressed  as  usual.  At  night  he 
appeared  unusually  exhausted,  and  retired  rather  early.  Af- 
ter about  two  hours,  a  change  was  observed  in  his  breathing. 


880  MEMOIR    OF  [1850. 

and,  on  examination,  it  was  found  that  he  was  actually  going. 
A  near  neighbor  was  called  in,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to 
rouse  him,  but  in  vain.  He  continued  to  breathe  till  about  1 1 
o'clock,  when  his  breathing  ceased,  and,  without  a  struggle  or 
a  groan,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  And  thus,  somewhat  unex- 
pectedly to  himself,  probably,  he  realized  the  fulfilment  of  a 
sentiment  which  he  had  penned  only  a  few  weeks  previous, 
and  which  we  here  subjoin.  Awaking  one  morning,  he  enter- 
tained the  supposition  that  some  had  slept  "in  death  ;  and 
after  indulging  in  a  reflection  on  the  fearful  disappointment 
of  those  who  had  awaked  in  the  world  of  misery  and  despair, 
he  added, '  But  if  a  soul  has  slept  the  sleep  of  death  the  last 
night,  and  has  opened  his  eyes  this  morning  in  heaven,  and 
found  it  infinitely  to  exceed  all  that  he  before  could  conceive, 
and  that  its  blessedness  is  to  be  eternal ;  O,  what  glory  has 
succeeded  to  this  mortal  state  !'  The  delightful  surprise  which  » 
he  experienced  in  finding  that  his  conflict  was  over ;  and  that 
all  trial,  infirmity,  sorrow,  and  sin  were  left  forever  behind  ; 
and  that  he  was  actually  admitted  to  the  joy  of  his  Lord ;  no 
language  am  describe.  Thus  peacefully  ended,  on  the  evening 
of  October  3, 1850,  his  eventful  and  useful  life.  Ninety  years, 
nine  months,  and  three  days,  had  passed  since  its  commence- 
ment. Not  much  reduced  in  flesh,  his  interment  could  not 
long  be  delayed  ;  and,  on  the  Saturday  following,  a  numerous 
assembly,  embracing  a  number  of  the  neighboring  ministers, 
convened  to  pay  him  their  last  respects.  A  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Farmington ;  and  his  re- 
mains were  deposited  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  where  (it  is 
hoped),  they  will  quietly  r^est  till  the  trump  of  the  archangel 
awakea  the  slumbering  dead. 

The  sketch  thus  given  of  his  last  days  will  naturally 
awaken  in  the  mind  of  the  reader  the  inquiry,  whether  he 
did  not  anticipate  that  his  end  was  near.  During  the  former 
part  of  his  illness,  he  is  thought  to  have  been  unaware  that  it 
would  prove  to  be  his  last.  But,  for  a  few  weeks  previous  to 


1850.]  JOTHAM     SEWAI.L.  381 

his  death,  he  entertained  the  thought,  and  submitted  the  mat- 
ter entirely  to  God,  resting  quietly  and  solely  upon  the  merits 
of  Him  in  whom  he  had  so  long  believed.  The  messenger 
came,  however,  somewhat  sooner,  we  think,  than  he  had 
anticipated.  And  if  any  one  needed  not  to  say  anything  in 
death,  we  should  think  it  was  he.  His  life  had  recommended 
religion.  His  life  and  his  lips  had  enforced  it.  What  more 
was  it  needful  for  him  to  add  ?  His  work  was  done.  His 
house  was  in  order.  His  soul  reposed  as  in  the  embraces  of 
his  Saviour.  And  his  temporal  concerns,  one  after  another, 
had  been  so  adjusted,  that  nothing  remained  for  an  adminis- 
trator or  executor  to  do.  He  had  no  religious  charities  to 
distribute  at  his  death;  he  had  distributed  them  liberally 
during  his  life.  We  have  not,  indeed,  as  we  have  passed 
along,  specified  the  amount  which  he  has  given  to  the  various 
objects  of  Christian  benevolence,  though  we  have  more  than 
once  been  surprised  at  its  size.  It  is  safe  to  say,  that  if  but  a 
small  portion  of  the  church  were  as  liberal  according  to  their 
means,  we  should  not  hear  such  fearful  cries  as  often  reach 
us  from  benevolent  religious  institutions,  of  empty  treasuries 
and  heavy  liabilities.  We  should  not  see  the  hands  of  perish- 
ing multitudes  stretched  out  for  the  bread  of  life,  which  it  ia 
not  in  the  power  of  those  institutions  to  give  them.  It  is  one 
of  the  good  things  which  we  have  to  say  of  him,  that  of  such 
institutions  he  was  practically  a  "  life-member." 

It  is  proper  to  give  the  reader  a  few  extracts  from  his 
diary  after  the  sickness  which  laid  him  so  long  aside.  At  the 
close  of  one  of  his  silent  Sabbaths,  referring  to  the  fact  that 
he  might  long  before  have  been  denied  the  privilege  of  preach- 
ing, he  says, '  This  would  have  been  most  righteous.  I  have 
been  the  most  unworthy  of  the  unworthy  ;  and  that  the  Lord 
should  continue  such  an  unworthy,  unqualified  person  in  his 
employ,  is  a  miracle  of  mercy.  And  that  I  should  have  been 
made  the  means  of  good  to  any  souls,  is  truly  wonderful.  It 
can  only  be  resolved  into  the  Divine  Sovereignty.  God  will 


382  ME  MO  IK  OP  [1850. 

work  in  such  away,  because  he  will,  and  show  that  he  can  glorify 
himself  by  the  most  unfit  instruments  in  human  estimation.' 
On  another  occasion,  referring  ft>  Christ's  being  made  sin  for 
us,  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him, 
and  understanding  this  of  the  final  perfection  of  the  saints  in 
heaven,  he  says,  '  What  a  happiness  to  be  perfectly  holy  !  Is 
this  my  principal  desire  and  aim  ?  J  think  it  is,  and  has  been 
more  or  less  for  many  years.  It  is  what  makes  heaven  desir- 
able, that  there  will  be  no  sin  there.  If  I  arrive  there,  I  shall 
serve  the  Lord  in  perfect  holiness,  without  the  least  deviation, 
even  in  thought,  to  all  eternity.  O,  what  a  salvation !  Heirs 
of  hell  made  heirs  of  heaven !  Well  might  the  Apostle  ex- 
claim, "  Oh,  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  knowledge 
and  wisdom  of  God !  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments, 
and  his  ways  past  finding  out !  " :  His  meditations  seem 
somewhat  frequently  to  be  drawn  toward  heaven.  Hence  the 
following :  '  To  be  fixed  in  unchangeable  holiness,  and  con- 
firmed in  consummate  enjoyment,  O,  what  a  state !  It  cannot 
be  conceived  of.  And  yet  this  blessedness  will  be  bestowed 
on  all  real  Christians.  How  wonderful !  God  will  bestow 
Avhat  none  now  but  himself  can  comprehend.  But  though  it 
cannot  be  comprehended,  it  can  be  enjoyed.  The  Lord  him- 
self cannot  be  comprehended.  But  he  is,  and  can,  and  will 
be,  enjoyed.  I  cannot  comprehend  myself,  but,  if  my  heart 
is  right  with  God,  I  can  enjoy  myself.  If  the  heart  is  right, 
everything  but  sin  and  wicked  society  can  be  enjoyed.^ 
Nothing  but  sin  can  separate  the  soul  from  God  or  the  enjoy- 
ment of  him,  or  the  enjoyment  of  any  of  his  works  to  the 
utmost  of  our  capacity,  and  the  extent  of  our  duration.' 
Again  :  '  So  my  days  pass,  one  after  another ;  and  so  they 
will  succeed  each  other  till  the  last  day  and  hour  arrives. 
Then,  no  more  days  or  hours  here ;  but  a  vast,  bottomless, 
open  eternity.  And  if  I  am  indeed  one  of  God's  children,  it 
will  be  an  eternity  of  pure  and  holy  joy,  —  serving  the  Lord 
without  any  of  the  clogs  of  dullness, — no  sin  to  separate  be- 


JOTHAM     SKWALL.  383 

tween  the  light  of  his  countenance  and  my  soul,  —  no  eclipses 
there  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness.'  This  last  was  written 
about  six  weeks  before  his  death.  And  the  following  entry, 
which  was  made  five  days  previously,  shows  the  sole  founda- 
tion of  his  hope  of  acceptance  and  salvation,  and  the  readiness 
of  his  mind  in  drawing  important  thoughts  from  trivial  cir- 
cumstances. He  was  speaking  with  gratitude  of  the  Divine 
favor  in  enabling  him  to  keep  paid  in  advance  for  his  religious 
periodicals,  which  he  highly  valued,  and  took  great  pleasure 
in  reading.  *  It  is  an  uncomfortable  thing  to  be  in  debt ;  and 
especially,  when  one  has  not  the  means,  to  have  the  creditor 
say,  "  Pay  me  that  thou  owest."  But  O,  how  sad  to  owe  ten 
thousand  talents,  and  have  nothing  to  pay.  Such  was  my 
condition  naturally,  —  ten  thousand  talents  in  debt,  and  utter- 
ly unable  to  pay  a  single  farthing  to  my  Almighty  Creditor. 
But  his  coequal  Son  paid  the  whole  debt  for  me,. though  it 
cost  him  his  life ;  and,  on  that  account,  I  am  freely  forgiven 
the  mighty  debt ;  and  justification,  sanctification,  and  eternal 
exaltation  in  heaven  are  secured  by  a  promise  and  oath  which 
cannot  fail  of  accomplishment !  Thanksgiving,  and  glory,  and 
honor,  and  praise  to  Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  to 
the  Lamb  forever ! ' 

And  as  his  views  of  the  safety  and  happiness  of  the  right- 
eous were  delightful,  his  views  of  the  guilt  and  danger  of  the 
impenitent  were  clear  and  impressive.  In  speaking  of  God's 
infinite  ability  and  right  to  govern,  he  says  :  (  He  asks  not 
creatures,  not  even  the  most  exalted  angel  near  his  throne, 
how  he  shall  manage  things.  His  own  consummate  wisdom 
is  sufficient  for  everything.'  And  then,  from  his  infinite  ex- 
cellency, he  infers  his  claim  to  universal  love  and  adoration, 
and  adds :  '  Any  intelligent  creature  who  withholds  such 
homage,  is  fraudulent.  He  robs  God  of  his  due.  But  he  is 
so  infinitely  wise  and  powerful,  that  if  his  due  is  withheld  in 
one  way,  he  will  have  it  in  another.  If  men  will  not  praise, 
they  shall  groan.  If  they  will  not  bow,  they  shall  break. 


384  MEMOIU     OF 

Those  who  persist  in  shutting  Christ  out  of  their  hearts  here, 
Christ  will  shut  out  of  heaven  hereafter.  Those  who  laugh 
now  in  sin,  shall  weep  hereafter  in  endless  woe.  "  The 
triumphing  of  the  wicked  is  short." ' 

It  is  hence  not  strange  that  he  longed  to  witness  the  con- 
version of  sinners  before  he  should  go  hence,  and  that  the 
seasons  of  social  prayer  which  he  enjoyed  should  afford  such 
records  as  the  following  :  '  Toward  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
I  offered  prayer ;  and  I  scarcely  ever  had  a  more  solemn, 
affectionate  season,  —  pleading  for  a  revival,  and  for  the 
shedding  forth  of  Divine  influence  for  that  purpose.  Felt 
loath  to  take  a  denial.1  '  I  attempted  to  lead  in  prayer.  My 
affections  were  much  moved.  I  seemed  to  come  like  a  hun- 
gry child  to  his  father,  crying  for  bread,  who  does  not  know 
how  to  be  turned  off  without  something.  I  did  cry  unto  the 
Lord.  O,  that  he  may  hear  and  answer.' 

With  this,  we  connect  another  extract,  which  should  en- 
courage prayer.  '  How  wonderful,  that  God  can  attend  to 
his  children  individually,  and  to  all  their  personal  wants  dis- 
tinctly, as  if  he  had  nothing  in  the  universe  beside  to  attend 
to.  He  can  attend  to  everything  at  once,  and  to  a  million 
of  petitions  and  petitioners  at  the  same  time,  without  the 
least  distraction,  and  grant  to  each  the  proper  answer.  There 
is  no  danger  of  any  of  his  creatures  being  overlooked  or  neg- 
lected in  the  infinite  variety  of  their  persons  or  requests, 
^uch  a  wonderful  being  is  the  God  whom  I  profess  to  love 
and  serve,  and  to  whom  I  daily  make  my  supplications.  And 
I  have  no  fear  of  his  saying,  You  must  not  ask  so  many 
things  —  I  can't  be  troubled  with  so  many  requests  from  such 
a  multitude  of  petitioners.  On  the  contrary,  his  language 
is,  "  What  will  ye  that  I  should  do  for  you  ?  "  "  Ask  what 
ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done : "  u  Concerning  my  sons  and  my 
daughters,  command  ye  me."  As  much  as  if  he  had  said, 
Have  you  any  commands  ?  Here  I  am,  ready  to  serve  you. ' 

We  add  only  one  extract  more.     '  Prayer  is  still  a  privi- 


JOT  HAM    SE  \VALL. 

lege.  May  the  frequency  of  it  never  make  it  less  desirable, 
or  less  comfortable.  The  frequency  of  our  common  meals 
does  not  make  them  at  all  needless.  The  frequency  of  re- 
turning day  and  the  rising  sun,  does  not  make  them  less  de- 
sirable after  a  long  dark  night.  The  frequency  of  our  beat- 
ing pulse,  never  makes  it  desirable  to  have  it  stop.  So  may 
the  frequency  of  spiritual  privileges  and  enjoyments  never 
cloy,  or  make  us  wish  that  they  should  cease.  Will  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  joys  and  employments  of  heaven  make  the 
inhabitants  of  that  blessed  world  tired  of  them,  and  long  to 
have  them  cease  ? ' 

Before  closing  this  memoir,  it  is  proper  to  offer  a  few  addi- 
tional remarks  upon  his  character. 

It  is  due  to  the  goodness  of  his  Creator  to  say  that  he  was 
endowed  with  good  natural  talents.  His  body  may  be  re- 
garded as  a  fair  index  of  his  mind  —  above  the  common 
stature,  well  proportioned,  erect,  muscular,  vigorous ;  and 
every  way  adapted  to  labor.  They  were  admirably  fitted  to 
each  other,  and  adapted  to  the  service  which  Divine  Provi- 
dence had  designed.  It  seems  scarcely  necessary  here  to  say 
that  his  intellect  was  clear  and  vigorous,  his  memory  good, 
his  imagination  not  defective,  his  will  resolute,  and  his  sym- 
pathies and  feelings  strong.  His  voice  was  clear  and  musi- 
cal, possessing  more  than  ordinary  compass  and  power. 
When  descending  to  a  deep  tone  to  express  some  solemn 
thought,  it  was  often  exceedingly  rich,  and  produced  a  feel- 
ing of  awe.  He  possessed  a  good  command  of  language ; 
and  his  grammatical  construction,  notwithstanding  his  want 
of  early  advantages,  was  generally  correct.  Had  he  been 
favored  with  a  thorough  public  education,  he  would  doubtless 
have  shone  as  a  star  of  no  inferior  magnitude  in  the  constel- 
lation of  American  clergymen.  But  the  Wisdom  which  or- 
dered otherwise  is  to  be  acknowledged :  and  some  of  the  pro- 
bable reasons  for  this,  lie  not  entirely  beyond  our  reach. 

His  training  was  in  a  sterner  part  of  our  country's  history ; 


MEMOIR    OF 

and  though  substantially  good,  was  not  without  its  detects, 
the  consequences  of  which  could  not  be  expected  to  wear  im- 
mediately away.  Its  general  character  allows  us  not  to  find 
in  him  a  high  degree  of  cultivation  and  refinement.  But 
though,  without  these,  he  could  not  be  a  column  of  marble, 
gracing  some  magnificent  hall,  he  could  be  —  what  the  Gov- 
ernor of  all  intended  him  to  be — a  pillar  of  granite,  which 
exposure  to  the  roughness  of  storms  would  not  injure.  A 
high  degree  of  refinement,  at  least  in  his  sensibilities,  would 
have  materially  disqualified  him  for  the  work  assigned  him, 
or  rendered  him  somewhat  uncomfortable  in  it.  Had  he  been 
accustomed  to  refined  society  and  to  the  habits  of  life  which 
there  exist ;  it  would  not  have  been  easy  for  him  to  find  a 
comfortable  home  under  almost  any  roof,  and  accommodate 
himself  to  the  circumstances  of  a  new  and  illy-furnished  pop- 
ulation. We  should  then  have  probably  found  him  shrinking 
somewhat  from  the  inconveniences  which  a  travelling  mis- 
sionary, in  the  field  he  occupied,  must  encounter — inconven- 
iences, which,  hi  some  instances  in  the  early  part  of  his  min- 
istry, where  the  most  hospitable  feelings  existed,  amounted 
to  very  serious  nocturnal  annoyances. 

We  cannot  review  his  early  history,  and  see  him,  a  poor 
young  man,  without  education,  beginning  the  world  with 
nothing  but  his  hands  and  his  trade,  and  penetrating  far  up 
into  the  forest  and  commencing  a  settlement  for  himself; 
without  admiring  the  depth  and  the  fervor  of  piety  which  he 
exhibited.  Not  many,  it  is  feared,  far  away  from  the  public 
means  of  grace,  seldom  hearing  a  sermon,  and,  for  some  time 
without  even  the  privileges  of  membership  in  a  church,  would 
maintain  such  a  walk  with  God,  and  feel  and  manifest  such 
anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  Zion  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
We  cannot  witness  the  fervor  of  his  closet  devotions,  and  fol- 
low him  out  into  the  various  walks  of  life,  and  see  him  carry- 
ing religion  wherever  he  went,  and  then  notice  the  deep  sym- 
pathy he  felt  in  the  prosperity  and  adversity  of  the  church, 


J  O  T  H  A  M    S  E  W  A  IrL  .  387 

and  how  readily  her  depressions  and  afflictions  called  forth 
his  earnest  and  tearful  supplications  ;  without  having  feelings 
awakened  within  us  which  border  upon  veneration.  We  are 
surprised  at  the  bright  example  of  devotedness  to  God  which 
he  presents,  and  are  ready  almost  instinctively  to  compare 
him  with  others  in  like  circumstances,  and  inquire  who  else, 
situated  as  he  was,  would  have  done  as  he  did.  In  an  un- 
common degree,  he  appears  to  have  begun  his  religious  life 
right.  With  his  heart,  he  gave  every  thing  to  God.  His 
time,  his  talents,  his  property,  were  not  his  own.  All  were 
God's,  held  in  trust  for  his  use,  and  ready  for  any  claims 
which  he  might  have  upon  them.  He  gave  himself  to  God, 
not  just  to  be  saved,  but  to  serve  him  in  any  way  he  might 
appoint.  His  theory  and  his  practice  appear  happily  to  have 
corresponded.  And  to  the  good  habits  which  he  thus  early 
established  was  owing,  in  great  measure,  the  enjoyment  and 
usefulness  of  his  life. 

As  a  husband  and  father  ho  was  kind,  sympathetic,  and 
provident.  From  the  character  of  the  training  which  he 
himself  had  received,  a  high  degree  of  refinement  in  the  so- 
cial relations  could  not  be  expected.  But  his  attachments, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  strong ;  and  here,  as  every  where  else, 
he  manifested  the  substantial  elements  of  correctness  and 
goodness.  He  '  ruled  well  his  own  house,  having  his  children 
in  subjection  with  all  gravity.'  The  regulations  which  he 
deemed  needful  to  the  right  deportment  of  the  members  of 
his  family  must  be  carefully  observed ;  and  when,  to  secure 
obedience,  the  direction  of  the  wise  man  was  needful  to  be 
carried  into  effect,  his  own  tears  sometimes  showed  how  pain- 
ful to  his  feelings  was  the  sad  alternative.  After  what  has 
passed  before  the  reader,  it  is  not  needful  here  to  remark  on 
his  anxiety  and  effort  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  chil- 
dren, except  to  say  that  he  expected  not  an  answer  to  his 
prayers  in  their  conversion  without  a  faithful  endeavor  in  him 
to  train  them  in  all  respects  aright :  nor  did  he  expect  that 


888  MEMOIR    OP 

they  would  readily  yield  obedience  to  God  till  they  had  first 
been  taught  obedience  to  their  parents. 

Nearness  to  God  in  prayer  was  a  peculiar  trait  in  his 
character.  He  seemed  like  a  child  coming  to  its  parent  with 
great  freedom  and  earnestness.  To  some  there  might  appear, 
at  times,  an  undue  familiarity  in  his  addresses  to  heaven.  But, 
ordinarily,  it  was  not  the  devout  who  possessed  this  feeling 
respecting  him.  We  do  not  say,  that  when  his  own  heart  was 
somewhat  cold,  nothing  of  this  grew  out  of  his  customary 
habit  of  intercourse  with  God.  But  that  habit,  it  should  be 
remembered,  resulted  from  the  simplicity  and  fervor  of  his 
piety.  It  would  not  be  easily  avoided  by  a  truly  confiding 
soul,  which  knew  so  much  of  intercourse  with  heaven.  Com- 
paratively few  have  ministered  more  to  the  edification  of 
Christians,  in  this  exercise,  than  he ;  and  many  who,  in  his 
more  favored  hours,  have  joined  with  him  in  this  duty,  would 
go  miles  to  enjoy  the  privilege  again.  We  have  noticed 
many  instances  in  which  he  rose  during  the  night  for  prayer. 
Others  might  have  been  mentioned.  When  at  home,  he  has 
many  times  thus  risen,  and  retired  to  a  shed  over  a  well  in  his 
barn-yard,  and  there  poured  out  his  soul  before  God. 

In  preaching,  his  tones  were  natural,  and  his  manner  easy. 
His  style  was  colloquial.  This  is  said  to  have  originated  in 
the  following  circumstance.  Going  to  an  appointment  for  a 
lecture  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  he  found  a  few 
•women  and  children  collected.  The  number  was  so  small 
that  he  at  first  thought  he  would  not  preach.  His  second 
thought,  however,  was  to  talk  over  to  them  the  subject  which 
he  had  intended  to  present.  The  experiment  was  so  successful, 
and  apparently  interesting  to  his  hearers,  that  he  thence- 
forward adopted  the  method.  This  doubtless  contributed  to 
his  popularity,  and  to  the  ease  with  which  he  was  understood. 
The  reader,  however,  is  not  to  suppose  that  he  descended  to 
a  style  which  was  low.  It  was  only  giving  simplicity  of  lan- 
guage to  his  manly  and  instructive  ideas.  With  such  varia- 


JOTHAM    SEW  ALL.  089 

tion  as  a  naturally  good  taste  suggested,  it  was  equally  inter- 
esting to  the  learned  and  the  unlearned.  In  the  language  of 
one  well  acquainted  with  his  history,  <  Not  only  were  the 
school-houses  crowded  when  he  preached  in  thinly  settled 
places,  but  refined  and  cultivated  audiences  hung  with  eager 
interest  on  his  lips,  in  the  largest  towns  and  cities.' 

We  have  noticed  the  power  which  he  possessed  to  render 
that  plain  to  others  which  was  plain  to  himself.  This  was 
owing  partly  to  the  clearness  of  his  own  conceptions,  partly  to 
his  readiness  of  thought  and  utterance,  and  partly  to  a  more 
than  ordinary  facility  and  force  in  illustration.  Wherever  he 
was,  or  whatever  class  of  persons  he  addressed,  he  could 
seize  on  objects  or  facts  adapted  to  their  apprehensions,  which 
would  elucidate  the  truth  or  point  in  hand.  It  has  been  said 
of  him,  that '  he  would  reason  a  case  like  a  lawyer.'  This 
was  peculiarly  true  of  the  former  part  of  his  ministry,  and 
before  his  intellectual  powers  had  felt  the  palsying  touch  of 
age.  He  would  so  arrange  his  arguments  and  sustain  his 
points,  that,  if  the  premises  were  admitted,  the  conclusion 
could  not  be  resisted.  We  have  here  a  fact  in  point,  from  a 
distinguished  clergyman,  who  '  had  known  him  for  more  than 
forty  years.'  '  In  a  place  near  to  Mr.  Sewall's  missionary 
station,  at  one  time  a  most  violent  opposition  had  been  raised 
to  the  doctrine  of  personal  election,  —  and  the  minister  in 
charge,  had  been  constrained  to  leave  the  fiojd.  Mr.  Sewall 
sent  an  appointment  there  for  himself ;  and  the  people,  well 
understanding  his  sentiments  on  this  topic,  all  gathered  to- 
gether, presuming  that  they  should  find  ample  materials  for 
their  cavilling  objections  ;  but  to  their  surprise,  instead  of  an- 
nouncing any  such  doctrine,  he  addressed  them  very  solemnly 
on  the  entire  sinfulness  of  the  whole  human  race.  He  so 
managed  the  subject  as  to  cany  conviction  to  their  minds  of 
its  truth  ;  and  coupling  himself  with  them,  they  seemed  all  to 
be  sitting  before  God  as  a  company  of  condemned  criminals. 
Stopping  abruptly,  he  proposed  prayer,  that  in  view  of  their 
33* 


MEMOIR    OF 

wretched  condition,  God  would  cleanse  and  save  them.  He 
was  always  mighty  in  prayer,  —  and  this  exercise,  so  unex- 
pected at  the  moment,  had  a  surprising  effect  in  humbling  the 
people.  Closing  his  prayer,  he  began  to  draw  inferences  from 
the  doctrine,  which  he  had  established  beyond  all  question  in 
the  minds  of  his  hearers.  Among  these  inferences  he  presently 
stated  one  to  this  effect :  '  If  it  is  true,  that  all  men  are  so 
entirely  sinful,  how  can  any  be  saved  unless  God  chooses  them 
to  salvation,  and  draws  them  by  his  power  ?  But  this  (he 
added),  is  the  doctrine  of  election  ;  and  if  we  admit  the  doc- 
trine of  depravity,  I  see  not  how  we  can  avoid  it.'  He  then 
reviewed  the  argument  for  entire  depravity,  and  again  made 
his  inference.  His  triumph  was  complete  ;  and,  from  that  day, 
no  objection  was  made  to  strict  Calvinistic  preaching  in  that 
place.'  It  is,  also,  doubtless  true,  that  he  made  this  inference 
tell  on  the  consciences  of  his  hearers,  by  showing  them  their 
dependence  and  danger.  The  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  in  his 
hands  were  not  bare  announcements  for  speculation  and  proof, 
but  matters  of  high,  practical  importance.  They  were  ad- 
vanged,  not  for  the  sake  of  establishing  them,  but  for  the  sake 
of  the  effect  to  be  produced  by  them.  And  it  was  owing  to 
the  practical !  aspect  which  he  gave  to  the  doctrines,  and  the 
simple  and  familiar  manner  in  which  he  presented  and  illus- 
trated them,  and  not  to  any  softening  down  of  their  sterner 
features,  that  o^posers  and  those  who  disliked  them  would 
listen  to  tilings  patiently  from  him,  which  they  would  scarcely 
endure  from  the  lips  of  any  other. 

His  power  to  convince,  rendered  him  impressive.  But  this 
was  not  the  only  element  by  which  impression  was  produced. 
He  never  was  satisfied  without  a  deep  and  solemn  sense,  in 
his  own  soul,  of  the  truths  which  he  dispensed  to  others. 
For  this  he  labored  and  prayed,  and  in  general,  with  success. 
His  utterance  was  not  unfrequently  choked  by  the  strength  of 
emotion  ;  and  the  tears  which  sometimes  followed  each  other 
in  quick  succession  told  his  hearers  that  in  the  depths  of  his 


JOTHAM    8EWA.LL.  891 

own  heart  he  felt  what  he  was  saying,  and  was  anxious 
that  they  should  feel  it  too.  Exchanging  with  a  brother  in 
the  ministry,  he  was  favored  with  freedom  and  solemnity. 
The  next  morning,  a  member  of  the  congregation  who  sym- 
pathized with  Unitarianism,  met  a  member  of  the  church  in 
the  street,  and  bestowed  many  commendations  on  the  preach- 
ing. «  How  is  this,  esquire  M ? '  said  the  church-mem- 
ber. '  This  is  the  same  doctrine  our  minister  preaches  ;  and 
yet  you  find  fault  with  him,  and  commend  Mr.  Sewall.'  After 
a  moment's  pause,  the  answer  was,  '  To  tell  the  truth,  we 
don't  care  if  these  ministers  send  us  to  hell,  if  they  are  only 
sorry  for  it.'  In  B ,  a  man  who  seldom  attended  meet- 
ing, was  always  anxious  to  know  when  he  preached,  and  care- 
ful to  attend.  On  being  asked  the  reason  of  this,  he  said, 
'  Why,  somehow  or  other  he  will  make  one  feel,  if  he  has  to 
do  it  mechanically ; '  —  by  the  strength  of  his  own  feeling,  he 
probably  meant. 

He  loved  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  esteemed  it  a 
privilege,  a  great  privilege,  to  speak  in  the  name  of  God  to  his 
fellow-men.  He  hence  regarded  any  event  which  frustrated 
an  appointment,  or  disappointed  an  expectation  of  preaching, 
especially  a  stormy  Sabbath,  as  a  frown  in  Providence.  And 
hence,  when  on  a  journey  or  otherwise,  he  blessed  God  for 
unexpected  opportunities  to  speak  his  word.  Having  gather- 
ed and  addressed  a  small  congregation  once,  he  said,  '  I  felt 
so  thankful  for  such  an  opportunity,  that  it  was  almost  inex- 
pressible. For  it  was  a  trial  to  me  to  pass  two  days  without 
preaching,  especially  as  I  considered  myself  on  a  mission.' 

But  any  passion,  however  commendable  in  itself,  which 
gains  ascendency,  is  liable  to  lead  astray.  And  we  by  no 
means  say,  that  this  delight  in  preaching,  especially  in  his 
later  years,  did  not  lead  him  at  times  to  accept  invitations 
which,  perhaps,  he  should  have  declined.  But  it  is  doubtless  true, 
that  He  who  looks  on  the  heart,  and  estimates  men's  char- 
acters by  their  desires  and  intentions,  will  approve  of  him  in 


MEMOIR    OF 

gome  instances,  where  fellow-creatures  may  have  been  dis- 
posed to  censure  or  condemn. 

Punctuality  was  a  marked  trait  in  his  character.  He 
suffered  nothing  but  difficulties  absolutely  insurmountable  to 
frustrate  his  engagements.  He  frequently  made  appointments 
weeks,  perhaps  months  ahead,  and  in  distant  places.  But 
when  the  time  came,  he  seldom  failed  of  being  on  the  spot. 
And  he  was  rarely  a  minute  behind  the  hour.  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  people  soon  learned  what  to  depend  upon ; 
and  where  he  made  an  appointment  they  assembled,  when 
they  would  nol  have  done  it  at  the  appointment  of  another.  He  - 
thus  collected  and  addressed  many  more  congregations  than 
almost  any  other  man  would  have  done.  A  fact  is  here  in 
point.  At  a  place  about  a  dozen  miles  from  his  residence,  he 
was  to  attend  a  church-conference  Saturday  afternoon.  It 
was  haying  time,  and  good  weather ;  and  circumstances  re- 
quired that  he  should  work  as  long  as  he  could,  and  be  in 
season.  He  was  a  little  behind  the  time.  A  number  had 
collected  ;  and  one  of  the  brethren  remarked,  '  I  guess  Mr. 
Sewall  will  not  be  here  to-day.'  '  If  he  is  not,  (replied  an- 
other,) I  will  saddle  my  horse  to-morrow  and  go  to  his  funeral, 
for  he  is  certainly  dead.' 

As  we  have  seen,  he  was  not  destitute  of  shrewdness.  At 
a  meeting  for  preaching,  attended  by  many  of  the  Methodist 
and  Freewill  Baptist  persuasions,  being  much  drawn  out  in 
the  first  prayer,  he  began  to  be  disturbed  by  a  pretty  liberal 
utterance  of  responses  from  those  around  him.  Feeling  that 
the  spirit  of  devotion  in  his  own  heart  was  suffering  from  the 
annoyance,  he  made  a  slight  pause  and  said,  '  We  bless  thee, 
O  Lord,  for  the  doctrine  of  particular  personal  election,  of 
which  we  have  so  many  witnesses  around  us.'  He  then  went 
on  to  praise  God  for  his  infinite  compassion  and  love  ;  that, 
foreseeing  that  all  would  reject  his  purchased  and  offered 
mercy,  he,  from  all  eternity,  purposed  to  bow  the  hearts  of 
some ;  and  in  fulfilment  of  that  purpose,  sent  his  Spirit  to 


JOTHAM    SEWALL.  393 

awaken  and  renew  them,  etc.  The  annoyance  ceased,  of 
course.  Inquiring  of  a  young  professor  if  he  maintained 
family  worship,  he  replied  that  he  did  at  night,  though  not  in 
the  morning.  '  You  are  like  Nicodemus,  (said  he  ;)  you  come 
to  Jesus  only  by  night.'  Asking  another  somewhat  worldly 
professor,  who  had  just  commenced  house-keeping,  whether  he 
worshipped  at  his  table,  he  replied  that  he  did,  generally ;  but 
sometimes,  when  he  was  in  a  great  hurry,  he  omitted  it.  '  You 
remind  me,  (said  he,)  of  the  man,  who,  when  he  was  salting 
down  his  meat,  to  save  time  asked  a  blessing  over  the  whole 
barrel.'  A  lady,  whose  house  he  was  leaving,  and  who 
had  been  for  a  time  somewhat  thoughtful,  requested  him  to 
pray  for  her.  Satisfied  that  she  was  leaning  upon  his  prayers, 
with  an  air  of  carelessness  he  answered,  '  I  will,  if  I  don't 
forget  it.'  The  reply  gave  much  offence ;  for  she  said  to 
herself,  'Is  that  all  which  he  cares  about  my  soul  ?'  But,  under 
God,  it  did  the  work.  A  second  thought  came  :  *  If  he  does 
not  pray  for  me,  what  will  become  of  me  ?  I  'm  ruined  ! ' 
She  was  soon  brought  hopefully  to  submit  to  Christ.  Some- 
times, where  he  supposed  argument  would  be  useless  or  inex- 
pedient, he  gave  a  hint  or  a  shrewd  reply  which  parried  off  a 
dispute,  and  might  induce  a  corrective  train  of  reflections.  A 
somewhat  pert  young  convert,  who  believed  in  falling  from 
grace,  once  asked  him  if  a  Christian  should  fall  into  sin,  and 
die  in  that  state,  what  would  become  of  him.  He  gravely 
replied,  that  if  God  had  let  Enoch  fall  when  he  got  him  half- 
way up  to  heaven,  he  supposed  it  would  have  hurt  him  very 
much  ;  thus  leaving  the  inquirer  to  infer,  whether,  after  God 
had  done  so  much  for  him,  such  an  event  was  very  likely  to 
take  place, —  showing  him,  too,  how  very  easy  it  is  to  make 
suppositions,  and  how  absurd  it  may  be  to  build  upon  them. 

His  industry  appears  in  a  particular  which  is  not  noticed 
in  the  foregoing  pages.  Though  he  was  so  constantly  in 
motion,  few  men,  comparatively,  read  more  than  he  did. 
Wherever  he  was,  he  was  seldom  without  a  book  on  hand,  in 


394  MEMOIR    OP 

a  course  of  perusal.  He  seized  moments  as  they  passed,  and 
took  hours  from  sleep,  (almost  invariably  in  the  morning,)  to 
devote  to  this  purpose.  And  his  reading  was  done, — like 
everything  else  that  he  undertook,  —  With  his  might.  It 
would  be  easy  here  to  give  quite  a  catalogue  of  books,  which 
have  been  minuted  from  among  many,  while  perusing  his 
diary,  which  he  read.  He  also  constantly  read,  almost  or 
quite  from  the  commencement  of  their  publication,  the  Boston 
Recorder,  Christian  Mirror,  and  Youth's  Companion.  These 
he  highly  valued ;  and  when  he  was  where  they  were  not 
taken,  would  make  arrangements  with  some  friend  to  forward 
them  to  him,  and  if  any  numbers  failed,  he  would  look  them 
up  afterwards,  and  thoroughly  peruse  them. 

Of  his  success  it  is  safe  to  say  that  many  souls,  in  different 
places,  owe  to  his  instrumentality,  under  God,  their  conver- 
sion. He  labored,  with  much  success,  in  many  revivals. 
And,  at  other  times,  many  arrows  flew  from  the  bow  he  bent, 
which  found  their  way  to  individual  consciences  and  hearts, 
inflicting  wounds  which  nothing  but  the  balm  of  Gilead  could 
heal.  This  remark  is  verified  by  the  following  interesting 
occurrence,  which  a  friend  has  furnished  in  nearly  the  lan- 
guage in  which  he  received  it.  '  Your  father  was  speaking 
one  evening  of  the  blessedness  of  unconditional  submission  to 
God  ;  and  then  spoke  as  follows :  ' "  God's  ways  are  not  our 
ways,  neither  are  his  thoughts  our  thoughts."  I  once  had  im- 
portant business  at  Portland.  On  my  way  there,  I  called  on 
a  friend  in ,  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  from  Port- 
land ;  and,  as  my  business  would  not  occupy  more  than  two 
hours,  I  left  an  appointment  there  for  the  next  evening.  I 
reached  Portland  late.  With  a  view  to  accomplish  my  busi- 
ness as  soon  as  possible,  I  went  about  it  early  the  next  morn- 
ing ;  for  I  felt  an  unusual  desire  to  preach  in  that  school-house. 
I  called  and  called,  again  and  again,  on  the  persons  I  wished 
to  see,  and  must  see,  or  lose  my  journey.  Though  constantly 
on  the  walk,  I  did  not  see  one  of  them  till  I  found  them  at 


JOTHAM    8EWALL.  395 

dinner,  between  one  and  two  o'clock.  I  bad  become  very  im- 
patient, hurried  through  my  business,  and  was  ready  to  start 
about  half  past  two.  It  began  to  rain  about  noon.  My  friends 
advised  me  to  remain  ;  but  I  told  them  that  "  uncle  Jotham  " 
never  failed  of  his  appointments  on  account  of  rain  ;  that  the 
people  knew  it  and  would  be  out,  and  that  was  a  special  rea- 
son why  I  should  not  disappoint  them.  The  rain  increased 
till  it  came  in  torrents.  I  rode  on,  chafed  in  my  mind,  like  a 
bear  bereaved  of  her  whelps ;  dissatisfied  with  myself,  with 
the  providence  of  God,  and  with  almost  everything  elfc.  It 
began  to  grow  dark,  and  I  was  eight  miles  from  my  appoint- 
ment. Passing  a  tavern,  I  was  hailed,  and  told  that  the  bridge 
over  a  rapid  stream,  just  ahead,  had  been  swept  away.  Then, 
said  I,  I  must  ford  the  stream.  That,  I  was  told,  would  be  im- 
possible,—  it  would  cost  me  my  life.  But,  said  I,  I  must  cross, 

for  I  must  preach  at ;  if  I  cannot  cross  here,  I  must  go  up 

the  stream  and  cross.  That,  too,  I  was  told,  was  impossible ; 
for,  besides  being  eight  miles  farther,  the  road  was  so  bad  and 
crooked  that  no  one  could  get  over  it  in  the  dark.  Then,  I  re- 
replied,  I  must  ford  the  stream  here,  for  I  must  preach  to-night. 
"Well,  (said  the  landlord,  laughing,)  if  you  must  preach,  preach 
here  :  I  can  raise  a  dozen  in  the  house,  and  perhaps  another 
dozen  in  the  neighborhood."  I  turned  into  the  shed,  took  a 
view  of  the  foaming  stream,  and  became  satisfied  that  I  could 
not  cross  it  there  that  night,  with  my  life.  I  returned  to  the 
tavern — had  no  appetite  for  my  supper.  When  all  was  read/, 
went  into  the  hall  and  found  perhaps  twenty  persons ;  and 
among  them  two  strangers,  who  had  been  detained  by  the  rain, 
which  was  still  pouring  in  torrents.  When  I  took  my  seat,  I 
felt  subdued  in  spirit,  melted  and  humbled.  I  wept  aloud. 
My  impatience  during  the  day  came  up  before  me ;  and  I 
said,  O  Lord,  I  am  a  poor,  weak,  short-sighted  sinner.  O 
Lord,  forgive,  I  beseech  thee,  my  guilty  murmurings  this  day ; 
for  "against  thee,  and  thee  only  have  I  sinned,  and  done  this 
evil  in  thy  sight."  I  will  draw  a  bow  at  a  venture ;  place 


396  MEMOIR    OF 

thou  an  arrow  in  it,  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  if  it  can  in  any 
way  be  for  thy  glory.      We  sung.     I  had  great  freedom  in 
prayer.   This  place  seemed  very  holy.    My  subject  was,  The 
saints'  rest.   I  spoke,  1.  Of  the  nature  of  that  rest ;   2.  Of  the 
persons  who  should  enter  into  it ;  3.  Of  the  way  to  it ;  4.  Of 
its  duration  ;  and  5.  Of  the  misery  of  those  who  should  be 
excluded  from  it.     Under  the  third  head,  after  speaking  of 
Christ  as  the  way,  I  mentioned  the  duty  of  entire  submission 
to  God,  both  to   his  will  and  his  providence.     I  related  to 
them<tow  unhappy  I  had  been  all  that  day,  because  I  had  not 
been  submissive.     I  had  had  no  rest,  because  I  had  desired  to 
have  my  own  way,  rather  than  that  God  should  have  his. 
My  feelings  were  so  deep  that  I  could  scarcely  speak.     I 
wept,  and  all  wept  with  me.  In  speaking  of  the  misery  of  those 
who  should  be  excluded  from  the  saints'  rest,  I  said  I  thought 
it  would  consist  chiefly  in  feelings  of  irreconciliation  to  God : 
and  then  alluding  to  my  own  case,  I  said,  If  the  poor  lost  sin- 
ner should,  to  all  eternity,  be  only  as  unhappy  as  I  have  been 
at  times  during  the  day,  he  would  be  the  most  pitiable  object 
in  the  universe.     I  closed  by  entreating  my  hearers,  if  they 
would  avoid  the  misery  arising  from  the  awful  sin  of  irrecon- 
ciliation to  God,  to  become  reconciled  to  him  that  night.    The 
meeting  closed  with  what  I  felt  to  be  an  awful  stillness.    Af- 
ter prayer  in  the  family,  all  retired  in  silence  for  the  night. 
I  prayed  and  wept  myself  to  sleep.    In  the  morning  I  found 
the  strangers  were  gone,  and  I  resumed  my  journey.   Reach- 
ing the  place  of  my  appointment  by  the  bad,  circuitous  route, 
I  learned  that  I  was  not  expected,  and  that  none  collected. 
I  then  felt  sure  that  God,  who  has  all  hearts  in  his  hands  as 
well  as  the  clouds,  and  the  rain,  had  some  design,  beyond 
what  I  could  see,  in  the  events  of  yesterday.   And  so  it  proved. 
Years  afterward,  as  I  was  returning  (from  the  anniversaries 
at  Boston,  I  think),  through  New  Hampshire,  I  passed  a  field 
in  which  I  saw  a  man  hoeing.   I  saw  him  drop  his  hoe  and  run ; 
and  soon  heard  him  calling  out, '  Father  Sewall !  —  io  not  this 


JOTHAM     SEW  ALL.  307 

4 

Father  Sewall,  or  Uncle  Jothara,  as  they  sometimes  call  him?' 
I  answered :  I  suppose  I  must  be  the  man  ;  for  I  go  by  those 
names  sometimes.  '  Well,  (said  he,)  if  you  are  Father  Sewall, 
I  want  to  thank  you  for  a  sermon  I  heard  you  preach  one  rainy 

evening  at .'     I  had  almost  forgotten  the  circumstances, 

till  he  brought  them  to  my  mind.  He  then  told  me  that  he 
and  his  friend  were  the  two  strangers  who  were  present,  and  that 
they  were  as  much  dissatisfied  with  the  rain  as  I  had  been. 
Till  then,  (he  said,)  I  and  my  friend  were  hardened,  self- 
righteous,  impenitent  sinners,  and  unreconciled  to  Go9.  But 
an  arrow  from  the  Almighty  reached  my  heart.  I  saw  myself 
a  rebel  against  God, —  a  lost  sinner  in  the  road  to  endless  death. 
I  was  too  proud  to  let  you  know  my  feelings.  Having  no  de- 
sire to  eat,  we  left  before  breakfast.  We  rode  for  some  miles 
in  silence.  At  length  I  said  to  my  friend,  '  If  what  that  old 
man  said  last  night  is  true,  I  am  lost.'  '  And  so  am  I,  he 
said,  weeping ;  '  and  if  I  had  not  thought  you  would  have 
ridiculed  me,  I  would  have  gone  to  him  on  my  knees,  and 
asked, "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  Our  first  impulse  was, 
to  return,  and  lay  our  case  before  you ;  but  we  concluded  that 
you  would  be  gone  before  we  could  reach  the  tavern,  and  so 
we  rode  on.  After  months  of  anxiety  and  distress,  we  ob- 
tained peace  in  believing.  We  never  meet  without  mentioning 
that  rain,  and  that  sermon,  and  the  pleasant  surprise  we  hoped 
to  give  you  in  heaven,  if  ever  we  shall  be  so  happy  as  to  meet 
you  there.  I  was  thinking  of  you  and  of  that  meeting,  alone, 
when  I  looked  up  and  saw  you.  I  was  sure  it  was  you ;  and 
I  said,  I  '11  give  the  old  man  that  surprise  now,  before  he  gets 
to  heaven.  After  conversing  some  time,  and  encouraging 
the  man  to  persevere,  I  rode  on,  humbled,  encouraged,  and 
filled  with  admiration  at  the  ways  of  God.'  After  a  pause, 
your  father  added, '  I  sometimes  hope  to  meet  with  many 
such  pleasant  surprises  in  heaven/  '  Who  can  doubt  that  be 
has  ?  From  the  statement  above  made  respecting  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  congregation  that  evening,  it  is  not  unlikely 
34 


MEMOIR     OF 

that  other  saving  effects  might  have  resulted  from  it,  which 
time  did  not  reveal  to  him.  The  reader  will  also  remember 
the  impressions  which  were  apparently  made  by  his  early 
preaching,  almost  wherever  he  went.  Among  all  of  these,  it 
is  scarcely  to  be  supposed  that  there  were  not  more  saving 
issues  than  are  generally  known. 

The  above  incident  sets  before  us  the  principal  elements  of 
that  moral  power  which  he  sometimes  wielded  over  the  con- 
sciences and  hearts  of  his  hearers.  One  was  the  depth  of  his 
own  religious  experience.  He  knew  the  power  of  Divine  truth 
to  slay  and  make  alive.  He  had  felt  it  deeply  upon  his  soul. 
He  felt  it,  more  or  less,  continually.  He  could  say,  "  We 
speak  that  we  do  know,  and  testify  that  we  have  seen." 
When  he  spoke  of  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart,  the  evil 
of  sin,  the  guilt  and  danger  of  impenitence,  the  claims  and 
sovereignty  of  God,  the  preciousness  of  Christ,  or  the  value 
of  a  Christian  hope ;  he  spoke  of  things  which  he  had  been 
impressively  taught  by  the  dealings  of  God  with  his  own  soul ; 
and  the  nearness  in  which  he  lived  to  God,  kept  the  impres- 
sion of  these  truths  fresh  upon  his  mind.  He  spoke  of  them 
as  things  which  he  felt ;  and  his  hearers  saw  that  he  felt  them. 
Another  element  was,  the  readiness  and  dexterity  with  which 
he  seized  upon  circumstances,  and  applied  them  to  the  subject  he 
had  in  view.  For  this,  his  talent  was  remarkable.  Many  in- 
stances of  it  occur  in  his  ministry.  Another  was,  the  entire- 
ness  of  his  dependence  on  God.  When  he  placed  an  arrow  on 
the  string  of  the  drawn  bow,  he  looked  to  God  to  direct  it. 
Indeed,  he  looked  to  God  for  strength  to  bend  the  bow  and 
arrange  the  arrow.  This  was  preeminently  true  of  him. 
The  flame  which  burned  in  his  own  heart  while  he  addressed 
others,  was  kindled  in  private  intercourse  withjieaven.  He 
always  wished  to  go  from  his^closet  to  the  desk. 

Another  circumstance  not  so  distinctly  visible  in  the  above 
incident,  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  contributed  to 
the  effectiveness  of  his  preaching  was,  the  use  which  he  made 


JOTITAM    SEW  A  LI,.  399 

of  the  doctrine  of  Divine  sovereignty.  We  have  seen  that  he 
loved  to  exhibit  it.  Often,  directly  or  incidentally,  it  had  a 
place  in  his  sermons.  And  one  important  use  which  he  made 
of  it  was,  to  make  the  impenitent  feel  that  they  are  in  the 
hands  of  God.  And  this  impression,  it  is  thought,  he  was 
somewhat  uncommonly  successful  in  producing.  From  dif- 
ferent points,  he  would  come  to  this  great  truth ;  and,  pour- 
ing it  out,  with  the  clearness  and  vigor  of  his  intellect,  from 
the  full  fountain  of  his  gushing  heart,  he  would  cause  it  to 
be  felt.  He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  freedom  of  the  hu- 
man will,  and  the  ability  of  man  to  do  all  which  God  requires. 
But  he  never  trifled  with  the  sinner,  by  allowing  him  to  be- 
lieve that,  at  any  time  when  he  might  choose,  he  could  suc- 
cessfully call  up  the  subject  of  religion,  and  make  his  peace 
with  God.  He  saw  an  obliquity  of  disposition  —  a  latent, 
deep-seated  depravity  within  —  which  the  power  of  God  was 
requisite  to  overcome.  And  the  question,  whether,  upon  the 
given  individuals  before  him,  that  power  would  be  exerted, 
cast  a  solemn  doubt  over  their  prospects  for  eternity  which 
affected  his  own  heart,  and  with  which  he  moved  theirs. 

Before  closing  our  remarks  on  his  success,  it  is  proper  to 
observe  that  no  minister's  usefulness  is  to  be  estimated  sim- 
ply by  the  number  of  conversions  of  which  he  is  immedi- 
ately instrumental.  There  is  a  general  influence,  salutary 
and  highly  important,  which  results  from  his  labors,  and 
which,  through  its  entire  structure,  the  community  around 
him  feels.  The  truths  which  he  exhibits,  enforced  by  the 
piety  of  his  life,  tend  to  restrain  vice,  and  promote  honesty, 
industry,  integrity,  and  every  social  virtue.  His  labors,  (so 
to  speak,)  furnish  the  aliment  on  which  the  health  and  order 
of  society  live  and  thrive.  His  influence  constitutes  a  salu- 
brious atmosphere,  in  which  all  that  is  lovely  in  human  char- 
acter, and  all  that  is  desirable  in  human  condition,  flourish. 
And  the  importance  of  this  in  a  new  country,  where,  as  in 
a  virgin  soil,  the  seeds  of  vice  or  virtue  have  a  rank  growth 


400  MEMOIR    OF 

—  where  the  character  of  the  community  is  forming,  and  the 
foundations  of  its  institutions  are  being  laid,  and  the  desti- 
nies of  future  generations  are  being  decided  by  the  moulding 
of  the  causes  which  are  to  act  upon  them ;  it  is  impossible  to 
estimate.  But  in  just  that  position,  it  will  be  remembered, 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  placed.  The  vicinity  in 
which  he  located  himself  was  almost  entirely  new.  The 
State,  taken  as  a  whole  —  and  especially  that  portion  of  it  to 
which  his  labors  were  principally  confined  —  was  new.  Any 
one  whose  early  recollections  enable  him  to  recall  the  then- 
existing  state  of  things,  or  whose  imagination  can  furnish 
him  with  a  tolerably  correct  picture,  will  see  that  the  amount 
of  the  good  influence  he  exerted,  immediate  and  remote,  is 
not  easily  estimated.  Let  him  fancy  a  region  in  which  the 
axe  of  the  new  settler  and  the  smoke  of  the  fire  by  which  he 
was  clearing  his  ground  were  almost  everywhere  heard  and 
seen,  or  where  these  were  just  giving  place  to  the  next  step 
in  the  progress  of  society  —  a  region  where  every  thing  was 
in  a  state  of  formation,  and  where  there  was  a  great  scarcity 
of  religious  instruction ;  and  is  it  snpposable,  that  a  man  of 
his  piety,  ability,  and  activity,  could  labor  in  such  a  field  as 
diligently  and  faithfully  as  he  did,  and  not  produce  a  most 
happy  and  lasting  effect  ?  Or,  let  him  fancy  such  a  region, 
and  then  just  totally  strike  out  from  it  the  agency  which  he 
exerted,  and  does  not  another  picture  present  itself,  possess- 
ing many  unhappy  and  revolting  features  ? 

A  pioneer  laborer,  on  many  accounts,  possesses  advantages 
which  his  successors  cannot  enjoy.  He  originates  trains  of 
influence.  He  digs  out  the  springs,  whose  fertilizing  waters, 
widening  and  deepening  as  they  go,  descend  to  other  genera- 
tions. The  present  pastor  of  Dennysville  Church,  Rev.  Mr. 
Stearns,  referring  to  that  effective  sermon  which  the  subject 
of  this  narrative  preached  there  January  1,  1804,  and 
glancing  in  thought  over  the  lives  and  influence  of  those  who 
were  converted  by  its  instrumentality,  says,  '  I  am  this  mo- 


JOT  HAM   SETT  ALL.  401 

ment  forcibly  impressed  with  the  fact  that  that  sermon,  de- 
livered almost  half  a  century  ago,  is  now  preaching  to  this 
people.'  A  correspondent  in  Thorndike,  amflng  other  fruits 
of  his  early  labors  in  that  vicinity,  speaks  of  three  Deacons, 
in  three  neighboring  towns,  (now  gone  to  their  reward,)  who 
were  pillars  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  characterized  by  their 
piety,  liberality,  and  consistency,  whose  influence  was  happily 
and  effectively  felt,  who"  attributed  their  conversion  to  his  in- 
strumentality. These  are  only  samples  of  facts  which  might 
be  gathered  from  many  other  places. 

On  a  review  of  his-  history,  we  cannot  but  devoutly  bless 
God  for  raising  up  such  an  instrument  for  his  work.  His  ex- 
istence, its  time  and  circumstances,  the  abilities  given  him, 
the  grace  imparted,  his  labors  and  his  success,  are  all  to  be 
resolved  into  the  sovereign  pleasure  of  God ;  and  constitute 
an  impressive  expression  of  his  kind  regards  to  our  great,  and 
growing,  and  influential  State.  For  these,  we  join  our  adora- 
tions and  praises  to  those  of  many,,who  will  forever  bless  the 
great  disposer  of  events  that  He  gave  him  being. 

Before  closing  our  remarks,  we  wish  to  say  a  word  on  a 
point  connected  with  his  history.  It  exhibits,  we  think,  some 
of  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  extemporaneous 
preaching.  This  method  left  him,  untrammelled,  to  adapt 
himself  to  circumstances,  to  seize  upon  passing  events,  and  to 
pour  forth  the  gushings  of  any  rising  emotion.  It  also  caused 
him  to  cultivate  the  habit  of  leaning  more  entirely  on  God 
than  he  would  probably  otherwise  have  done ;  and  of  looking 
to  him  for  help  and  guidance  both  as  to  matter  and  spirit;  — 
and  this,  in  any  one,  must  exert  a  happy  influence  on  Chris- 
tian character.  On  the  contrary  —  his  discourses  were  not  as 
thoroughly  prepared  as  they  otherwise  would  have  been  ;  and 
we  sometimes  find  him  lamenting  the  omission  of  important 
thoughts  which  he  had  intended  to  introduce.  But  the  prin- 
cipal disadvantage  is  seen  toward  the  close  of  his  life.  As 
the  habit  gave  scope  to  the  fire  and  vigor  of  his  mind  in  his 
34* 


PLACES  WHERE  HE  PREACHED: 

THE  reader  may  be  gratified  with  a  Catalogue  of  the  places  in  which 
he  preached,  and  the  number  of  times  in  each.  The  figures  denote 
the  number  of  times. 


Abbot    .... 

.       3 

Buckabuck,  N.  B.          . 

1 

Addison 

.     43 

Buckfield,      . 

5 

Alna      .... 

.     23 

Buoksport,     . 

42 

Albany 

.     10 

Burlington,    . 

86 

Albion, 

.  123 

Burlington,  Mass. 

9 

Alfred,  .... 

.       3 

Burrel'ville,  R.  I.    . 

2 

Alexandria.  D.  C. 

.       9 

Byfield,  Mass. 

1 

Amesbury,  Mass. 

.       5 

Calais,   

34 

Andover, 

3 

Cambridge,  Mass. 

5 

Andover,  Mass. 

5 

Camden.        . 

31 

Anson, 

.     95 

Campo  Bello,  N.  B. 

3 

Athens, 

.       4 

Canaan,         . 

7 

Attleborough,  Mass. 

.       6 

'  Canterbury,  N.  H. 

2 

Atkinson, 

.       4 

Cape  Elizabeth,     . 

10 

Augusta, 

.  222 

Carmel,                  .        . 

28 

Avon,    . 

..     10 

Carthage,       . 

6 

Bangor, 

.     84 

Castine,                                   . 

82 

Baltimore,  Md. 

.       8 

Center  Harbor,  N.  H.    . 

15 

Barnstable,  Mass. 

.       3 

Centerville,  Va.     . 

1 

Bath,     .... 

.     96 

Charleston,    . 

1 

Belmont, 

.       6 

Charleston,  S.  C.  . 

11 

Belfast, 

.     13 

Charlestown,  Mass. 

10 

Belfast  (North,)     . 

.     24 

Charlestown.  R.  I. 

1 

Belgrade, 

.     18 

Charlottesvillc,  Va. 

2 

Berwick, 

.     77 

Chatham,  N.  H.     . 

4 

Bethel, 

.     39 

Chesapeake  Bay,  Brig  Olive, 

1 

Bethlehem,  N.  H. 

.    46 

Chester,  (on  the  Penobscot,) 

6 

Biddeford, 

.      7 

Chester,  Penn. 

2 

75 

Chesterville,  . 

1369 

Black  River,  S.  C. 

.       1 

Cherryfield,    . 

33 

Blanchard,     . 

.       5 

China,   . 

10 

Bloomfield,    . 

.  184 

Clinton.                   . 

32 

Bluehill, 

39 

Columbia,                       . 

30 

Bodoinham,           .        . 

.       7 

Columbia,  Va.       .        . 

1 

Boothbav, 

.     10 

Concord,  Vt. 

fi 

Boston,  Mass. 

.     26 

Conway,  N.  H. 

1 

.     23 

Cornish,  N.  H.        .         .         . 

2 

Bradford 

.       5 

Cornville,       . 

8 

Bradford,  Mass. 

.       6 

Corinna,         .         .         .         , 

6 

Braintree,  Mass.     . 

.       9 

Cooper,          . 

19 

Brewer, 

.  133 

Crawford,      . 

1 

Bristol, 

.     29 

Culpepper.  Va.      .        .        . 

3 

Bristol,  R.  I.           . 

4 

Cumberland, 

26 

Brownville.    . 

.       6 

Cumberland.  R.  I. 

1 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.     . 

.       3 

Gushing,         . 

5 

Brooks, 

o 

Danvers.  Mass. 

10 

Brooksville,   . 

.     13 

Danville,        . 

12 

Brunswick.    . 

.  159 

Dartmouth.  Ma=s. 

2 

PLACES   WHERE   HE   PREACHED. 


405 


Davistown,    . 

.     10 

Gloucester,  R.  I.    . 

2 

Dead  River,  . 

.     70 

Goochland,  Va. 

1 

Dedham, 

.     12 

Gorham,         . 

13 

Dedham,  Mass. 

.     16 

Gouldsborough, 

19 

Deer  Isle, 

.     14 

Grand  Falls,  Passadumkeag 

Deer  Isle,  N.  B.     . 

.       2 

Stream, 

1 

Dennysville, 

.     41 

Granville,  N.  C.     . 

6 

Dexter. 

.     16 

Gray,      

4 

Dimviddie,  Va. 

.       1 

Green,             . 

3 

Dixfield, 

.  192 

Greenland,  N.  H. 

o 

Dixmont, 

.     51 

Greenwich,  Conn.          .        . 

2 

Dorchester,  Mass. 

.     19 

Guildhall,  Vt. 

4 

Dover, 

.       2 

Guilford,        . 

3 

Durham, 

.     17 

Guilford,  N.  H.      . 

80 

Durham,  N.  H.      . 

.       3 

Hallowell,     . 

106 

Douglass.  Mass.     . 

.       2 

Hampdcn,      . 

145 

Eaton,  N.H. 

.       3 

Hampton,  N.  H.    . 

20 

Eastport, 

.     55 

Hanover,  Mass.      .        .        . 

1 

Harmon  v 

4 

Edisto  Island,  S.  C. 

2 

Harpswell,     . 

119 

Edgecomb,     . 

.     49 

Harrington,  . 

3 

E.  Greenwich,  R.  I. 

.     10 

Hartford,        .    '     . 

7 

Elliot  

1 

Haverhill,  Mass.    .        .        . 

4 

Ellsworth, 

.       9 

13 

Elkton,  Md.  . 

.       1 

Hiram,           . 

2 

Emden, 

.       7 

Hod^den,                               . 

7 

Enficld, 

.     28 

Hollis,  N.  H. 

2 

Exeter, 

.       2 

Hope,                                       . 

13 

Exeter,  N.  H. 

.       6 

Hopkinton,  R.  I. 

4 

Fail-field, 

.  218 

Houlton,        . 

49 

Fairhaven,  Mass.  . 

.       1 

Howland,       . 

16 

Falmouth, 

.     19 

Hunt's   Meadow,   (Eastern 

Falmouth,  Mass.    . 

.       9 

River,) 

2 

Farmington, 

.  497 

Industry,                 . 

210 

Fayette, 

.  240 

Isleborough,           . 

8 

Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

.       3 

Ipswich,  Mass. 

9 

Foster,  R.  I. 

13 

Jackson,                                    . 

4 

Foxcroft. 

.       9 

Jay,        .....' 

20 

Franconia,  N.  H. 

.     51 

Jefferson,       .... 

28 

Frankfort, 

.  104 

Jonesborough, 

19 

Franklin,        .         .         . 

37 

Johnson,  R.  I.        ... 

3 

Freedom, 

.     14 

John's  Island,  S.  C. 

1 

Freeman, 

.     31 

Kennebunk, 

42 

Freetown,  Mass.    . 

.       1 

Kennebunk  Port, 

19 

Freeport, 

15 

Killingly,  Conn.     . 

4 

Friendship 

2 

Kingfield,      .... 

84 

Fryeburg, 

.       6 

Kingston,  Mass.     . 

5 

Gardiner, 

.     15 

Kingston,  N.  II.     . 

1 

Garland, 

.     20 

Kirkland,       .... 

3 

Georgetown, 

.     27 

Kittery,          .... 

1 

Georgetown,  D.  C. 

.       4 

Knox.    

15 

Gile.ad,  .... 

.     10 

Lake  Settlement,  . 

11 

Gilmanton,  N.  H. 

.     26 

38 

Gloucester,  Mass. 

.       8 

Levant,           .... 

1 

PLACES    WHEKE    HE   PREACHED. 


Limerick.       . 

2 

New  York  City,     .     •  . 

3 

82 

Newrv.                     .         . 

3 

Lincolnville, 

7 

Nobleboro,     . 

8 

Litchfield, 

26 

Norridgewock, 

175 

Little  Compton,  R.  I.    . 

•12 

Northfield,     . 

41 

Lisbon,           . 

2 

Northtield,  N.  H.   . 

10 

Livermore.     . 

3 

Northbridge.  Mass. 

1 

Lexington,     . 

45 

North  Kingston,  R.  I.    .        . 

3 

London,  N.  H. 

1 

Northport,      : 

11 

Lovell,  

6 

Northwood,  N.  H. 

G 

Lowell,       .            . 

12 

North  Yarmouth, 

12 

Machias,         . 

233 

Norway,         . 

7 

Mackadavy,  N.  B. 

4 

Nottingham,  N.  H. 

4 

McKinnytown,  (  Sebastacook 

No.  6.  (East  of  Springfield,)  . 

28 

River,) 

1 

Oak  Hill,        . 

7 

Madison,        .... 

49 

Old  Town,     . 

35 

Madrid,          . 

11 

Ohio,      

9 

Manchester,  Mass. 

8 

Orford,  N.  H. 

1 

Mariaville,      . 

4 

Orland,          . 

17 

Marblehead,  Mass. 

5 

Orono,            . 

27 

Martha's  Vineyard,  Mass. 

20 

Orrington,      . 

75 

Matowamkeag, 

13 

Ossipee,  N.  H.        .        . 

3 

Matamiscontis, 

4 

14 

Maxfield,       .... 

1 

Palermo,        .        .        .        . 

7 

Mecklenburg,  Va. 

2 

Paris, 

6 

Medway,  Mass.      .        '. 

3 

Passadumkeag, 

8 

Mendon,  Mass. 

1 

Pawtuxet,  R.  I. 

1 

Mercer,           .... 

77 

Patricktown, 

1 

Meredith,  N.  H.    . 

33 

Patten, 

23 

Mexico,          .... 

6 

Pembroke.     . 

55 

Middleboro,  Mass. 

1 

Pembroke,  N.  H.    . 

1 

Middletown,  Conn.        .        . 

1 

Penobscot,     .        . 

40 

Milford,          .... 

17 

13 

Milo,     '  

3 

Philadelphia,  Penn. 

13 

Monmouth,    .... 

40 

Phillips,          . 

69 

Monticello, 

19 

Phipsburg,     .... 

8 

1 

Pittsfield, 

7 

Mount  Vernon, 

44 

Pittsfield,  N.  H.     . 

4 

Monltonborough,  N.  H. 

1 

Pittston,         . 

40 

Mount  Desert, 

27 

Plymouth,      .... 

1 

10 

Plymouth,  Mass.   .        .        . 

1 

New  Bedford.  Mass. 

6 

Plymouth.  N.  H.    . 

3 

Newburgh,     .... 

26 

Portland,       .... 

193 

Newburyport,  Mass. 

47 

Portsmouth.  N.  H. 

4 

New  Castle,  .... 

158 

Pownal.          .... 

8 

New  Gloucester,    . 

11 

Princeton,  N.  J.      . 

1 

New  Hampton,  N.  II.    . 

*> 

Prospect,        .... 

19 

Newmarket,  N.  H. 

10 

Provincetown.  Mass. 

136 

Newport,        .... 

25 

Providence.  R.  I.  .        .. 

20 

Newport,  N.  II. 

2 

Quincv,  Mass. 

2 

Newport,  R.  I. 

5 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

4 

New  Portland, 

42 

Randolph,  N.  H.    . 

1 

New  Sharon, 

171 

Readfield,      .... 

71 

New  Vineyard, 

99 

Reading,  Mas?.      .        .        . 

7 

PLACES    WHERE   HE    PKEACIiED. 


407 


Kehoboth,  Mass.   . 
Richmond, 

.      3 
5 

Trenton, 
Troy,     .... 

.     12 

.     11 

Robbinston.  . 
Rochester,  Mass.  . 
Rome,          •  . 
Rowley,  Mass. 
Rumford, 
Saco,      .... 
Salem,   .... 
Salem,  Mass.          .        .  - 

.     62 
.       1 
4 
.       3 
.  161 
.      7 
.     55 
.     19 

Troy,  Mass. 
Tniro,  Mass. 
Tuftonborough,  N.  H.   . 
Turner, 
Unity,    .... 
Union,   .... 
Uxbridge,  Mass.    . 
Vassalboro,            .        . 

.       4 
.       4 
.       5 
.       1 
.     63 
.     58 
.       1 
.     51 

Sanbornton,  N.  H. 
Sandwich,  N.  H. 
Sandwich,  Mass. 
Sangerville.   . 
Seabrook,  N.  H.    .        . 

3 
3 
3 

.     12 
2 

Vienna, 
Vinalhaven, 
Wales,   .... 
Waldoboro,    . 
Waldo,  .... 

.     14 
.     13 
.       1 
.  104 
4 

Searsmont,    . 
Sebec,            .                 . 
Sedgwick, 
Scarboro, 
Scituate,  R.  I. 
Sidney, 
Shelburne,  N.  H.    . 
Skowhegan, 
Smithfield,  R.  I.    . 
Solon,    .... 
South  Kingston,  R.  I. 

7 
.     17 
9 
.     12 
.       2 
.     42 
.     12 
.     17 
7 
.     44 
.     25 

Wareham,  Mass.   . 
Warren, 
Waterford,     . 
Waterville,    . 
Warwick,  R.  I.      . 
Washington, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Wayne, 
Weathersfield,  Conn.     . 
Weld,     .... 
Wells,    .... 

.       2 
.     51 
.       3 
.     42 
.       8 
.       9 
.     10 
.     38 
.       1 
.  164 
.     12 

Springfield,    . 
St.  Albans,    . 
St.  Andrews,  N.  B. 
St.  George,    . 
Standish,        .        .        . 
Starks,  .... 
Stetson,          .        . 
Steuben, 
Stonington,  Conn. 
Stratham,  -N.  H.    . 
Strong,           .        . 
Sullivan, 

.     33 
.       3 
.     11 
.       1 
.       1 
.  110 
.       6 
.     26 
3 
.    30 
.  141 
.     69 

Wellfleet,  Mass.     . 
Westbrook,    . 
West  Pond  Settlement, 
Westport, 
Westerly,  R.  I.       . 
West  Greenwich,  R.  I.  . 
Weston,  (Baskahegan,) 
Wellington,  Del.  . 
Wilton, 
Williamsburgh, 
Windham, 
Winslow,       .        . 

.       7 
.     58 
.       9 
.       5 
.       4 
.       1 
.       6 
.       5 
.  317 
.       2 

.       9 

Sumner, 

.     14 

.     25 

Sunabeck, 

.     10 
.     33 

Windsor,  Vt. 
Winthrop,      .        .        . 

.       6 
.  100 

Sntton,  Mass. 
Swanville, 
Tamworth,  N.  H. 
Taunton,  Mass.     . 
Temple, 

.       5 
.     12 
.       I 
.       6 

.  186 

Wiscasset, 
Whitefield,    . 
Whitefield,  N.  H.  . 
Whiting, 
Wolfsborough,  N.  H.     . 

.     47 
.       1 
.     13 
.     17 
.       3 

Tiverton,  R.  I. 
Thomaston, 
Thorudike,     . 
Thornton,  N.  H.    . 
Topsham, 
Topsfield,      . 

.     24 
.     45 
.       5 
.       5 
.  113 
.       1 

Woolwich, 
Worcester,  Mass.   . 
Worrington,  Va.    . 
Yarmouth,  Mass. 
York,    .... 

.  119 
.       3 
.       5 
.       1 
.     21 

INDEX, 

THE  following  items,  additional  to  those  specified  in    the  Table  of 
Contents,  are  inserted  for  the  convenience  of  the  reader. 

Anecdote  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Scott,  p.  120. 

Call  to   the   Ministry,   his  view   of,    312.       Cent    Society,   (note,)    123. 
Consociation  formed  at  Winthrop.  172.    Churches  formed,  at  Hallowell, 
56  ;  Chesterville,  68;  New  Sharon,  69;  Sullivan,  83;  Bloomfield,  86; 
Industry,  92;  Rumford,  125;  Albion,  129;  Andover,  137;  Starks,  137; 
Unity,  141;  Bingham,  146;  Dennysville,  151;  Dixfiekl,  162;  Dixmont, 
168 -/Solon,  162;  Portland,  3d.  169 ;  Union,  2d.  176;  Weld,178;  Strong, 
184;  Robbinston,  192;  Pittston,  199;  Fairfield,  214:  Farmington,  215; 
Kingfield,  245;  Castine,  2d.  250;  Eastport,  (Unitarian,)  252;  Warren, 
2d.  290;  Wiscasset,  2d.  294;  Bangor,  (Hammond  Street,;  316;  Wilton, 
235;  Freeman,  237;  Northfield,  330 ;  Whitney  ville,  330;  Passadumkeag, 
365;  Bethel,  375.     Church  received  to  fellowship,  in  Temple,  179. 
Deaths,— Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  281 ;  Rev.  Fifield  Holt,  301 ;  Rev.  Charles 
Jenkins,  311 ;  Rev.  Daniel  Lovejov,  316 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Sargent,  236 ;  Rev. 
Samuel  Johnson,  330;  Rev.  Mr.  Gould,  358;  Rev.  William  May,  358; 
Daniel  Sewall,  Esq.  358;   Mr.  George  J.  Horner,  365;    Gen.    Henry 
Sewall,  366.     Deist,  abused  by,  101.     Dismissions, — Rev.  Mr.  Powers, 
84;  Rev.  Mr.  Cayford,  199;"R'ev.  John  Crosby,  308;  Himself,  321. 
Installations,— Rev.  Mr.  Cayford,  180;  Himself,  247;  Rev.  Daniel  Love- 
joy.  297;  Rev.  Oren  Sikes,  316;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Chapman,  321;  Rev. 
J.  N.   Whipple,  321;    Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,   jr.  340,   358;    Rev.  J.  R. 
Munsel,  346;  Kev.  J.  T.  Hawes,  346;  Rev.  Daniel  Sewall,  346,  367; 
Rev.  William  J.  Breed,  346.    Interesting  visit  to  a  sick  Lawyer,  373. 
Kennebeck  Conference  of  Churches  formed,  261. 
Licensed,  Messrs.  Samuel  Sewall  and  Daniel  Lovejoy,  146. 
'  Monument  Church,'  Richmond,  Va.,  256. 

Narrowly  escaped  drowning.  342.  Near  being  killed  by  lightning,  238. 
Ordinations, — Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  168;  Rev.  David  Thurston,  168 ;  Rev. 
Daniel  Lovejoy,  171;  Rev.  David  Smith,  180;  Rev.  Nathan  S.  S.  Bee- 
man,  184;  Rev.  Henry  Sewall,  199;  Rev.  John  W.  Ellingwood,  199; 
Rev.  Daniel  Kendrick,  199;  Rev.  Mr.  White,  (at  Wells,)  200;  Rev. 
Fifield  Holt,  213;  Rev.  Josiah  Peet,  213;  Rev.  Hezekiah  Hall,  215; 
Rev.  David  Starret,  255;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Chapman,  270;  Rev.  Jotham 
Sewall,  jr.  270;  Rev.  Charles  Jenkins,  278;  Rev.  Joseph  Underwood, 
281;  Rev.  Isaac  Rogers,  281;  Rev.  Josiah  Tucker,  282;  Rev.  Jacob 
Hardy,  282;  Rev.  Hermon  Stinson,  297;  Rev.  Simeon  Racket,  301; 
Rev.  George  E.  Adams,  301;  Rev.  Daniel  Libby,  311;  Rev.  Samuel 
Talbot,  311;  Rev.  Asa  Bullard.  311;  Rev.  Josiah  Fisher,  311;  Rev. 
Wales  Lewis.  311;  Rev.  Mr.  Fisk,  311;  Rev.  John  A.  Vinton,  311; 
Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins,  311;  Rev.  Alden  Bovnton,  311;  Rev.  William 
Davenport,  330;  Rev.  Daniel  Sewall,  331;  Rev.  E.  S.  Hopkins,  345; 
Rev.  David  B.  Sewall,  352;  Rev.  J.  H.  Conant,  358;  Rev.  Mr.  Pond, 
358;  Rev.  A.  Morton,  363;  Rev.  Elijah  Kellogg,  363;  Rev.  Stephen  H. 
Hayes,  363;  Rev.  Mr.  Copeland,  3b7;  Rev.  Sir.  Chapman,  367;  Rev. 
Pliiiy  F.  Barnard,  371;  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  374. 
Quarterly  Concert  of  Prayer,  58. 

Requested  to  settle  at  Bloomfield,  172 ;  at  Norridgewock,  177. 
Shocking  effects  of  Intemperance,  203.     Shock  of  an  earthquake,  143. 
Tempted  to  Infidelity,  15. 
Union  Conference  formed,  96. 


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